A serial flasher tracked down by a group of residents near a Canterbury play area has been jailed for two years.

Ricky Neville, 43, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting twice breaching a sexual offences prevention order which banned him from entering public parks and gardens, play areas, churchyards and woodland.

The former radio presenter had previously been jailed in 2009 for similar offences and had numerous convictions for indecent exposure and outraging public decency

Denzil Pugh, prosecuting, told the court that Neville was first seen on the afternoon of July 23 near where children were playing in Forester Close, Canterbury.

Later he was seen in the North Holmes Road area near St Gregory's church and spotted peering through a fence. When some children banged on the fence, he made off, looking as if he was doing up his trousers.

Mr Pugh said that several parents went looking for him and found him in the churchyard with his hands near his groin facing a children's play area.

"There were children there and if he had exposed himself, it would have been in full view of them," added Mr Pugh.

Oliver Saxby, for Neville, who lives in Grosvenor Place, Margate, said his client's compulsion to expose himself was 'akin to a drug user having a drug habit'.

But he said he was trying to rid himself of it and was in contact with a special clinic which treats people with obsessional compulsive disorders.

But jailing him for two years, Judge Adele Williams said her prime duty was to protect the public and children against him.

She added: "Your selfish approach in thinking nothing but of your own sexual gratification ignores the rest of us in society and particularly children who need to be protected from your activity.