A convicted sex offender from Marden who was caught accessing images of child sexual abuse on his mobile phone has been jailed for four years.

David Haley ignored measures imposed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending and also used the device to share illegal images online and fantasise about abusing young children.

Haley had previously been sentenced in 2015 to more than six years imprisonment for a sexual assault and other offences related to indecent images of children.

Upon his release, he was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricted his use of devices able to access the internet.

Any devices he owned would need to be made available for inspection on request by a police officer or staff.

On September 5 last year, officers made an unannounced visit to his home in Ballard Close, Marden.

After examining his phone, police discovered the 40-year-old had been accessing hundreds of illegal images, which included child sexual abuse.

Haley would use an online alias, 'Amy', and discuss abusing children with other users. He also used apps to send and receive messages and images, with settings configured to delete after viewing.

Haley was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was further charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order and for failing to comply with a notification requirement, relating to the sex offenders register.

The offender from Marden pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced on October 20to four years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of a further four years. He will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Investigator Lee Sinden, of the Offender Management Unit, said: "Haley had been the subject of strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending. He has been unable to adhere to these restrictions and has demonstrated a clear determination to access illegal and harmful images, many of which include the horrific abuse of children.

"In passing this extended sentence, the judge has recognised he poses a serious risk of further offences to children. Sexual harm prevention orders are passed by the courts to help protect children and as this case shows, we will do everything we can to ensure those who ignore them face the consequences of their actions."