A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for more than two years for committing child sex offences with children he was banned from contacting.

Ross Barton, 22, from Laindon, remained expressionless in the dock at Basildon Crown Court as Judge Samantha Leigh said he remained a serious risk to the public.

Barton had previously admitted two counts of inciting a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and two counts of breaching the sexual harm and prevention order he was under at the time for an offence committed in 2014.

The order was made on March 16 2017, involving his victim who was from Yorkshire.

It was also heard that Barton had been verbally abusive to a custodial officer in June of this year.

Judge Leigh told the court on Friday that Barton, of Chancel Close, Laindon, had a phone confiscated by a monitoring officer in June last year, which was later found to have footage of the girl carrying out a sexual act having been enticed to by Barton.

He was later remanded in custody, and admitted the four charges.

Judge Leigh sentenced Barton to a total of 28 months in prison for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and a total of four months for the two breaches of his sexual harm and prevention order, which will run concurrently.

Addressing Barton, she said: “Whilst the phone that was confiscated took a long time to be examined, it was known at the time that it was something you were prohibited from having.

“But we know now what you asked the girl to do, and we know it was filmed.”

Barton will serve at least half of his sentence, 14 months, behind bars, before he is eligible for parole.

However, due to the severity of the incidents and Judge Leigh’s concerns about the risk of reoffending, Barton’s time out on licence will increase to three years.

Judge Leigh added: “I have real, real concerns about you committing further offences if you are released. The risk of you offending again is very high.

“I must impose a custodial sentence, but I will make the sentence for the two breaches of the sexual harm and prevention order and latest sexual offences concurrent.”

Anyone concerned about the welfare of a child can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. Those under 18 can call 0800 1111.