A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for five years after sexually asaulting a child.

Tearful Bradley Challis not only abused a child but also built up a stockpile of vile images of other children, and babies, being abused before he was caught and sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday.

Challis had previously admitted two charges of sexual assault, one of taking indecent photographs, four of making indecent photographs and two of distributing photographs at the same court in May.

The charges included Challis making more than 3,000 images of children as well as eight films and distributing 13 photographs and 22 films between February 2013 and March 2016.

Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, told the court how Challis had come forward when police executed a warrant at his mother’s house.

He told the court: “On March 14, 2016, police entered a property off of Lodge Road, Braintree where information had been obtained that an IP address from there was accessing websites dealing and sharing indecent images of children.

“Upon entering the property, police asked the defendant’s mother and other family members about the usage, upon which the defendant, said ‘it’s me you need to talk to, no one else is involved’.

“He openly admitted to accessing hundreds of indecent images of children, several including babies, which he had developed an obsession for after progressing from pornography.”

On one occasion Challis abused a child and filmed himself doing it.

Fortunately the victim did not know what was happening.

Steven Levy, mitigating, said: “At aged ten, the defendant had been on a bridge with his father, who had phoned up his mother to say he would jump and take the defendant with him.

“His many challenges and family struggles resulted in him turning to pornography, which led to his obsessing and descend into indecent child images.

“He fully co-operated with the police so his family would not be affected.

"He was pleased when he was forced into the situation, as he wanted the help, and has genuine remorse for the damage he has caused.”

Challis, 24, of Lodge Road, Braintree, was sentenced to a total of four years and six months for sexual assault and 12 months for taking indecent images of children, to run concurrently.

He was given six months in total for making and distributing indecent images bringing the total to five years.

He was given a sexual harm and prevention order to last ten years.