A SERIAL sex fiend with a 20-year history of indecent offending was caught with child pornography just weeks after being released from his last custodial sentence.

Appearing over the video link at Preston Crown Court from Wymott Prison, 52-year-old Paul Emsley admitted making a series of indecent images of children.

The images – one category A, one category B and 25 category C – were found on two mobile phones seized by officers from the police’s sexual offender management unit on September 3.

During that visit Emsley was noticeably agitated and asked the detective if they could talk in a kitchen, rather than his room

David Clark, prosecuting, said the officer persisted and asked whether he had any mobile phones in his possession, which he denied.

His online behaviour, for offences involving the possession of indecent images of children, was being monitored as part of a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Carlisle Crown Court in February 2019, the court heard.

Mr Clark said the detective then spotted a mobile phone, which was seized. Emsley also said he had a second mobile.

He also told the officers that three indecent images of children were likely to be found on the devices. Interviewed later, following his arrest, Emsley said he had bought the mobiles at a flea market. He also confessed he had obtained the three images of the children via a WhatsApp connection.

In November, Emsley was jailed for 32 months for breaching a sexual harm prevention order in relation to the discovery of the phones.

There was a delay in police examining the content of the phones, but when they did they discovered the 27 indecent images of children – 24 more than Emsley said they were likely to find.

Emsley, formerly from Padiham, but more recently of Lydia Street, Accrington, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing indecent images of children.

Defending, Saleema Mahmood asked for a pre-sentence report, stating that if her client was to get a concurrent sentence to the one he was already serving there should be some investigation into what accommodation and probation support was available to him upon release.

Judge Robert Altham rejected the application.

Sentencing was adjourned to be listed in front of Judge Philip Parry, who dealt with the case in November.