A CONVICTED Worcestershire sex offender has been given a second chance after a court heard he failed to keep going to a group work programme because of depression.

Shaun Nicholas was sentenced to a threeyear community order with regular supervision and a requirement to attend group work sessions in April last year for offences involving a girl under the age of 16.

Simon Bradshaw, appearing for the probation service, told Worcester Crown Court the offences taken together meant the 44-year-old, of Worcester Road, Malvern, could be sentenced again and sent to jail where he would be under closer supervision to undertake the programme.

Mark Lister, defending, said Nicholas had a serious heart condition which would eventually require him to have a transplant.

He had also been suffering from depression and had made a suicide attempt.

He said Nicholas had found it difficult to keep attending the programme because he did not like to listen to the others in the group but he now fully understood the position he was in and asked for another chance.

Judge Robert Juckes said Nicholas might have been considered lucky to stay out of jail on the first occasion but he was prepared to accept that depression had played a part in him failing to complete the programme. He warned Nicholas it would be his last chance to avoid prison and added an extra two sessions of group work.

He also ordered a three-month overnight curfew from 10pm to 7am.