Convicted paedophile dressed as Santa Claus jailed for posing for pictures with children in Newcastle

A registered sex offender who dressed as Santa Claus in Newcastle city centre has been jailed after being caught taking pictures with children for cash.

Stephen Brown, 40, was parading near Fenwick's festive window on a busy Northumberland Street offering to pose with pictures of children while dressed as Father Christmas.

But the department store's security staff contacted police who were concerned about the stranger's activity on Saturday.

Officers arrived and discovered that Brown had been jailed for five years in 2012 for possession of indecent images and inciting a child to engage in a sex act.

He was immediately arrested by police in front of a packed Northumberland Street and was later charged with breaching the sexual offences prevention order.

The court heard how it was the second time Brown had breached the order since being released from prison in January 2017.