A PEADOPHILE who photographed himself abusing a child has been jailed after admitting a string of sex offences.

Colin Hodgson, 61, admitted five counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent images of a child.

Police carried out a warrant on Hodgson's home in Newman Drive, Boxted, in November after receiving intelligence he was accessing indecent images online.

The officers seized computers and devices and found images and videos involving under age children.

He was then arrested when a second warrant was executed on Friday, December 1.

Investigating officer Dc Bethany Beeton said: “Tens of thousands of images and a number of videos were found on Hodgson’s devices with a large majority of them being category A, the most serious category.

“As the Police Online Investigation Team went through each image and video, it became clear Hodgson had photographed himself taking advantage of a child, sexually assaulted them and caused them to engage in sexual activity.

“Hodgson has shown no remorse for his actions and I believe our communities are safer places with him locked in a prison cell.”

Hodgson was handed a total of seven years and ten months in jail when he was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was given three years and six months for the sexual assaults, six years and six months for inciting the children into sexual activity and one year for two counts of making indecent images all to run concurrently.

The pervert was also given a sentence of one year and four months for the other count of making indecent images which will run consecutively.