A CEREDIGION sex offender who tried to move to Ireland on the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry without telling anyone has been jailed.

Dennis Bull, aged 67, was caught trying to drive a van onto the ferry with his belongings in the back ready for a new life in the Republic.

Bull, of Nirmit, Bow Street, Aberystwyth, admitted failing to comply with the conditions of registration as a sex offender and was jailed for 16 months.

Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court it was the third time he had breached the order, imposed at Caernarfon crown court in February, 2016, for possessing indecent images of children.

That conviction was on top of earlier offending in New Zealand that included indecent exposure, outraging public decency and gross indecency with a child.

Mr Thomas said Bull had been jailed for 16 months in 2016 and ordered to register with the police. The restrictions imposed included a requirement to tell the police if he intended to change address.

On November 13 last year police at Fishguard harbour became aware of a Ford Mondeo registered to Bull.

A few minutes later Bull was arrested as he attempted to drive a van onto the Stenna ferry, which was loaded with household items.

Bull told the police he had made arrangements to move to Ireland "lock, stock and barrel" because he understood the monitoring of sex offenders was less strict.

In particular, said Mr Thomas, Bull did not like prospective employers being told about his convictions.

Judge Geraint Walters told Bull, "This was a planned and determined attempt to avoid detection. It was only the eagle eyes of the authorities that brought you to book.

"Your record is troubling and you present a risk of committing more offences of a sexual nature.

"You are defiant of court orders that are there to protect others and it is truly disturbing that you are so keen to breach them."

Bull was warned that the 2016 order remained in place for a further seven years.