A Harpenden man caught again with child sex abuse images has been given one last chance by a crown court judge.

Mohammed Hussain, 25, was freed, having spent the past six months on remand in prison, but was told by Judge Andrew Bright QC that if he carries on downloading indecent images he will spend longer and longer behind bars.

Prosecutor Ann Evans told St Albans crown court that on March 12 last year a police officer went to his home.

When she examined he iPhone she saw a half-dressed image of a girl aged under 17 but he told her: "My brother used the mobile. It isn't mine."

A computer was examined and under a file titled: "Mohammed Hussain" the police found naked pictures of girls.

There were two movies and nine images in Category A, the most serious level, two movies and 7 images at Category B and 4 movies at Level C, the least serious level.

When questioned by the police Hussain of Longfield Road, Harpenden denied the offences, but when he appeared in court he pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Prevention Order and possessing and downloading images.

Mrs Evans said that Hussain was jailed for nine months for sexual activity with a female under 16 in November 2012 and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years.

He was released from prison in May 2013 and returned to his home in St Albans, but in October of that year was found to have downloading indecent images of children and was given a Community Order.

That was due to expire on November 28, 2016 with a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order that included a condition that any internet device he has should retain his browsing history.

Tim Clark, defending, said Hussain had been in custody since December 10 - the equivalent of a 12 month sentence.

He said Hussain now admits downloading the material and said there were a relatively small number of images.

Judge Andrew Bright QC said: "Your predilection for child pornography has got you in trouble time and time again. You seem to have made a habit out of downloading it."

The judge said it was very tempting to lock him up for as long as he could but he would not receive treatment on his release from prison.

He said if he passed a suspended prison sentence he could make him subject to a stringent and Draconian Sexual Prevention Order.

He sentenced him to 12 months in jail suspended for two years with an indefinite Sexual Prevention Order which included conditions that he had internet history recording on his computer and phone, does not use social network sites, does not to delete chat history.

He must not use a computer unless monitoring software is installed, must not to approach a female under 16 and must not to have more than one mobile or SIM card.

Hussain will be on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

The judge told him: "You have got one last chance. If you re-offend you will go to prison for a longer and longer period."