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Police have described Jason Leonard, 37, as “one of the most dangerous” registered sex offenders in the country. Leonard was locked up for 32 months in 2013 after he downloaded 251 indecent pictures of children and went on to share them on the internet. He was slapped with a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), which allowed monitoring of his internet use. He was also give a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which adds extra requirements including on travel. Leonard, of Haslingden in Lancashire, appealed against the SHPO but was unsuccessful in overturning it today.

Leonard is a convicted and shameless paedophile

In the 10 years performing this role I have never met a sexual offender who quite openly acknowledges his paedophilic tendencies Detective Constable Andrew Ashworth

Burnley Crown Court heard how the paedophile said he wanted to travel to other countries where the age of consent is lower so he could pursue a sexual relationship. After losing the court appeal today, Leonard will only be able to travel abroad if he has written permission from a police chief constable. He had previously told police his ideal partner is aged between 12 and 14 and even said “if a child is old enough to talk, it’s old enough to have sex”.

The judge at today’s court hearing heard Leonard believes paedophiles in the UK are being “persecuted” like “homosexuals 40 years ago and the Jews in the Second World War”. Lancashire Police have warned their ability to monitor his internet use is not “sufficient to manage his risk”. Magistrates allowed police to slap a SHPO on him, which ensures he has no unsupervised contact with a child under the age of 16. Leonard's lawyer said that this order was “completely disproportionate” and should be revoked.

Leonard's appeal was refused by Burnley Crown Court

Detective Constable Andrew Ashworth said: “Mr Leonard is unique. In the 10 years performing this role I have never met a sexual offender who quite openly acknowledges his paedophilic tendencies. "He is exceptional and has been risked as exceptional. He is very vocal and adamant about this persecution. He likens it to the persecution of homosexuals 40 years ago. "Mr Leonard has expressed his desire to leave the country because he believes the police, judiciary and government in this country are persecuting paedophiles. "He believes that in the fullness of time paedophilia will be accepted in the same way that homosexuality is today.

Leonard has spoken very openly about wanting to have sex with young women