A prolific sex offender from Langley has been sent back to jail — after just a few hours of freedom — because he broke the conditions of his release by drinking alcohol.

Graham Lackey, 46, has over three dozen convictions dating back to 1989. He was released from the Fraser Regional Correctional Center on March 17.

That same day, officers from the RCMP's street enforcement unit watched Graham arrive in Langley by bus. He was greeted by a friend who took him to the local pub, where he promptly ordered a beer.

Among his conditions for release was an order to abstain from alcohol.

The officers arrested Graham as he exited the pub just 25 minutes later.

Police say he has been sentenced to an extra five months in jail.

Of his 37 convictions, 17 were sex-related offences and 12 were related to his failure to comply with his release conditions.

Most recently, Lackey was convicted in November 2011 of exposing his genitals to a person under the age of 16. He was sentenced to prison and two years of probation.