A convicted sex offender who had a paedophile manual and 23,000 images of children has been jailed.

Lewis Mortimer, of Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found with a stash of child abuse material.

The 42-year-old had multiple previous convictions for child sex offences and at the time of his arrest he was restricted access to the internet by the court.

These restrictions meant he was also meant to notify police of any internet enabled devices he possessed as well as details including online usernames, bank cards and passport information.

In December 2019, police were made aware Mortimer had contacted a woman online claiming to be a photographer who worked with young children.

A similar report was made to police months alter, when after contacting another woman the Sittingbourne man sent images of children being abused.

In April 2020 he was arrested at his home and had a number of his devices, including a tablet hidden in the base of his bed, seized and examined by police.

"People like him must face the consequences..."

Upon searching his phone, officers found a file of indecent images, as well as pages from a so-called paedophile manual which had explicit details of how to groom and abuse victims.

More than 23,000 images were found on his tablet, many of which were in the most extreme category.

Mortimer appeared before Maidstone Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing images, four counts of possessing indecent images and with possessing a paedophile manual.

He also admitted ten counts of breaching notification requirements and seven further counts of breaching a sexual offence prevention order.

On Friday, he was sentenced to five years in prisoner with an extended licence period of a further two years. He will remains on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Sergeant Vicky Whitmill said: "Mortimer was subject to 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.

"Make no mistake, the material Mortimer deliberately sought and downloaded will have resulted from real victims suffering appalling abuse.

"He has a significant offending history and appears to have no understanding of the gravity of his actions.

"People like him must face the consequences and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure they are brought before the courts."