A sex offender failed to disclose his criminal past when he applied to become a licensee at a pub in Bristol, a court heard.

Stephen Ford, 31, didn't reveal that he had committed a series of crimes, including sexual offences, before he began working at the Pegasus pub in Greystoke Avenue, Southmead.

Married father-of-two Ford no longer works at the pub. He was given a suspended three-month prison sentence and ordered to pay £100 after admitting two counts of fraud at Bristol Magistrates' Court in a case brought by Bristol City Council's licensing department.

Although the exact nature of Ford's convictions were not outlined in court, Kate Burnham, prosecuting for the city council, said the offences were serious and the defendant had "many" crimes to his name.

She said that if Ford had disclosed his convictions, he would have been unlikely to have been awarded a personal licence to run a pub.

Ms Burnham said if Ford had been honest, the police may have objected to him being granted a licence and he may have been called to plead his case at a licensing committee, which would have ruled on his application.

The court heard that Ford made the application for a licence in October 2008.

Ms Burnham said Ford failed to declare his previous convictions on his application form to Bristol City Council and also submitted false certificate of his criminal record.

She said: "The defendant was fully aware of the application procedure, as was revealed in his interview under caution, and went to great lengths to dishonestly conceal from the council the fact he had been convicted of many relevant offences, including some very serious ones and including some of a sexual nature."

Ms Burnham said Ford had given a false date of birth and misspelt his first name with a "v" as part of the application process.

Debbie Clarke, defending, said: "Mr Ford was trying to make a better life for himself and his family.

"He certainly appreciates just how serious these offences are but there was nothing sinister in him failing to disclose these convictions.

"They were always going to become disclosed because he is well-known in the area and he is well-known to the police.

"He hoped that by the time he was discovered, he could prove himself of his position to those people who gave him the opportunity to run the pub.

"This pub was for over-21s only and there were never any problems with anything like under-age drinking while he was in charge.

"Furthermore, he hasn't gained financially as a result of running the pub.

"In fact, he is £10,000 in debt because he took out a bank loan to run the pub and a refurbishment was carried out."

Before urging magistrates not to jail Ford because it would devastate his family, Ms Clarke added: "He is limited as to what he can do for a living because he has a serious heart condition. It's got significantly worse in recent months and a recent scan showed he had suffered a mild heart attack.

"He has now been permanently signed off work and is waiting for a heart bypass operation."

Magistrates handed Ford a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, ordered him to keep appointments with a supervising officer and to join the Think First programme.

He was told his licence to run pubs would be forfeited and destroyed.