A PAEDOPHILE caught with indecent images of children as young as three told police he had watched adult pornography but it didn’t satisfy his needs.

Preston Crown Court heard when an iPhone and computer belonging to Robert William Esson they found he had been searching for pornography sites for ‘young and pre-teen’, ‘forced rape’ and ‘age young videos’.

Prosecuting, Stephen Parker said officers from the police’s sexual offenders management unit had visited Esson’s home in Newton-in-Bowland in August last year to check his compliance with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The 34-year-old had received that indefinite SHPO in May 2015 as part of a three-year jail sentence for making and distributing indecent images of children and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.

As part of his SHPO Esson was banned from deleting his internet history.

However when officers inspected the iPhone during the compliance visit they found indecent images of children.

When Esson’s electronic devices were inspected, officers found 35 category A images - the most serious examples of child abuse - 14 category B images - including one video - and 54 category C images.

Mr Parker said Esson had actively been searching for the videos and not ‘simply stumbled across them’.

During police interview Esson admitted to deleting his internet history and deleting indecent images of children.

Mr Parker said: “He said he loved girls between the ages of eight and 11. He didn’t look for girls being abused but he got sexual gratification from it.

“In recent months he had tried to view adult pornography with a view to see if it satisfied his sexual needs but it didn’t.”

Esson, Back Lane, pleaded guilty to making and possessing indecent images of children.

The court heard Esson had also breached the SHPO in March 2018 for which he received a community order, with a sexual offender programme requirement.

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Defending, Gordon Hennell said his client had got some insight into his offending as a result of attending the programme.

Mr Hennell said: “He had been in meaningful employment in one of those firms that processes food for supermarkets. He gave it up because he recognised he was going to have a custodial sentence. He told me as and when he’s at liberty they’re likely to have him back because he’s a good worker.”

Judge Mark Brown jailed Esson for 14 months.