A Kent man has been jailed after admitting a series of offences including distributing indecent images of children at the worst level.

Alan Hannaby, 51, of Sheerness, was sentenced to three-and-half years in jail at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, after pleading guity to 20 offences, broken down into 10 offences of distributing indecent images of children and 10 offences of making indecent images of children.

Police had raided his home on Ranelagh Road on December 22, 2008, when he was arrested.

The court heard how Hannaby had previous convictions for indecent assault on two women and inciting gross indecency.

The police's Digital Forensics Unit examined computer equipment seized from his home and found 2,356 indecent images of children and eight films of children. They ranged in severity from levels one to five.

Senior investigating officer DC Mark Tyler said: "Hannaby has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a danger to children. His distribution of images of children being abused serves to encourage further abuse and continues to victimise vulnerable children featured in the picture."

Anyone who has information on this type of crime can ring Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and anyone who is involved in this type of crime and wants to stop can visit the website stopitnow.org

• Hannaby will also be required to sign the sex offenders register.