A man has been jailed for more than three years for a string of offences relating to possession of indecent photographs of children and other related crimes.

Richard Smith, 30, of Lowestoft, was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, March 24 after he pleaded guilty to possession of indecent photographs including images and movies of children.

He also pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs, possession of an extreme pornographic image and a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Smith, of The High Street, was a known registered sex offender who was serving a suspended sentence following previous convictions for making indecent images of children.

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Officers became aware of a referral last October indicating his use of a Snapchat account with an indecent video of a child uploaded to the internet.

Following further enquiries made by officers, police attended his home address on November 29 to execute a warrant. 

He was arrested and charged leading to him receiving a total custodial sentence of 42 months at court.

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After the sentencing, PC Nicola Flack from the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "This was clear and blatant disregard by Smith with regards to his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

"This order was put in place by the judicial system to protect the public from predators like him.

"We are very satisfied with this sentence which I hope goes some way to reassure the public of the police stance when it comes to subjects of such orders.

"Internet crimes such as these are far from victimless and every image depicts the very real abuse a young child has suffered.

"We will do everything within our power to protect victims who are subjected to these potentially life-changing acts of indecency purely for the gratification of others."