A convicted paedophile who was banned from working with children is back behind bars after he was found running a ZORBING business aimed at young kids.
Stewart Willmer, 47, was jailed in 2002 after being convicted of a string of sickening offences against children as young as 12.
The “menacing” sex offender was also given a prevention order prohibiting his contact with children following the incidents of indecent assault during the 1990s.
But since his release from prison Willmer had set up a watersports business called Get Wet Dry.
Police found a video promoting the firm on the internet featuring children playing in the giant “zorb” balls.
Northampton Crown Court was told Willmer and another sex offender pal took the watersports equipment to events to country fairs across the UK.
Families with children would take part in the popular activity, which involves strapping people into a giant, transparent ball and rolling down a hill.
The court heard Willmer had filmed the kids playing in the water-filled orbs for “no other reason” than sexual gratification.
He was arrested and charged with breaking the sexual offences order, which had been renewed FIVE times over the years because he is deemed such a risk to children.
The order stipulated that Willmer, from Wellingborough, Northants., was to avoid contact with youngsters and to not associate with other sex offenders.
On Tuesday (10/9) Willmer pleaded guilty to breaching the order and was jailed for two years.
Sentencing him Recorder William Harbage QC said: “The orders were made for a good reason – to protect children from you.
“Despite that, you set up a business which was clearly going to attract children and you used the cover of that business to film children, as well as filming children covertly for no other reason I can see than sexual gratification.
“You are a menace and potential danger to children.
“Three separate sex offence prevention orders have been made against you, but you have breached them repeatedly.
“You have a troubling history.”
Prosecuting Alex Bull said when police officers seized Willmer’s computer they found extreme pornography as well as covertly-filmed videos of children playing.
The court also heard Willmer had 55 previous convictions and had been in and out of prison for a variety of different offences over a 20 year period.
In 1994 he was convicted of indecent assault on a child aged under 16 after he picked up two girls and took them to his flat. He asked one of the girls to wear handcuffs.
Then, in 1995 Willmer was convicted of gross indecency when he befriended a 12-year-old boy.
And In 1999, videos of children playing on trail bikes were seized from Willmer.
He also had a host of convictions for other offences included drugs, dishonesty and violence.
