A MAN with a 'preoccupation with girls between 12 and 14' is behind bars after again being found with images of child abuse.

Steven Howse was jailed 16 months in 2006 after he was caught distributing indecent images of children.

But less than 10 years after he was released from prison the 45-year-old was back downloading the vile material from the internet.

And when he was questioned he insisted he was not interested in the films and pictures sexually, as he also said when he was quizzed a decade ago.

Now the pervert, who his solicitor says now accepts he has a problem, has been jailed for a year.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court police acting on intelligence went to his Park South home in July and seized his mobile phone and computer.

On the devices he said they found 36 images in category A, the worst and 22 in B, the middle the three tiers: many of which were movie files.

He said that the majority of them involved the abuse of girls aged between 12 and 14 years old.

Mr Meeke said he told police that he had post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety after being abused.

"When he had downloaded the images he stored them. He wasn't interested in them sexually at all. He just wanted to see them," he said.

Howse, of Leighton Avenue, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.

Claire Fear, defending, said: "I would ask Your Honour to see that there has been some breakthrough with this defendant."

She said that he no longer claimed that he was looking for research purposes because he had been abused in the past.

"He has reneged: he does have this sexual preoccupation with girls between 12 and 14."

She said his acknowledgement means that it could be possible for him to receive treatment to change his behaviour in the future.

"Bearing in mind the previous custodial sentence has not been effective I would ask you to suspend it so he can complete an internet sex course," she said.

Jailing him Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "I have to sentence you for three offences of making indecent images of children and an offence of possessing extreme pornographic images.

"You have been sent up here by the magistrates to be sentenced. The quantity of material that were found on your equipment show that you had gone back to your old ways and again you were committing these serious types of offence.

"In my judgement the only sentence that can be imposed is a sentence of immediate imprisonment.

"You are 45, you are not someone of good character. The length of the sentence is determined by the quantity of material that you had, and the nature of that material.

"Also, an aggravating feature is the fact that you were convicted of similar offence in 2006.

"It is said that you have recently had a breakthrough in that you recently realised you have a predilection for this type of material. I hope you have, but I have a degree of scepticism about that."

An NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: “Howse owned a number of indecent images and videos of children being abused – many of which fell within the most serious category of offending.

“The youngsters in these films and pictures are the victims of unspeakable and horrific abuse and the harrowing experiences they endured for the images to be created should not be underestimated.

“This case is particularly shocking given that Howse is now a repeat offender.”

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free 24/7 on 0808 800 5000. Meanwhile, children can call ChildLine on 0800 1111.