Darren Goode, of Marsh Street, Barrow, appeared at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to 12 sexual offences against boys under the age of 16.

Cumbria police, who had Goode under observation, said he had made a shelter at Barrow docks to watch children play and had bought a husky dog as a "lure".

Goode, originally from Birkenhead, moved to Cumbria in July 2007.

The convicted sex offender appeared at court on Thursday after admitting seven charges of sexual touching of boys under 13 and five charges of sexually grooming boys under the age of 16.

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Geoff Huddleston said Goode was a "sexual predator of children" and had been strictly monitored since he moved from the Merseyside area in 2007.

He added: "As soon as we pieced together an evidential picture of what he was trying to do, he was quickly arrested and brought into custody before he had opportunity to commit further offences."