Dangerous Yorkshire paedophile returned to jail after taking photos of himself in children's underwear and downloading thousands of vile images

Paul Rapson was given an extended prison sentence at Leeds Crown Court after a judge told the 49-year-old he continues to pose a serious danger to children.

Rapson has previously served an extended prison sentence for sexually abusing a young boy and taking indecent photographs of unknown youngsters at Alton Towers and Cannon Hall Farm more than a decade ago

Rapson continued to offend after being released from custody and defied stringent court orders designed to prevent him re-offending.

Leeds Crown Court heard police seized computer equipment from Rapson's parents' home in Kirkheaton, Huddersfield, in August 2017.

The equipment was analysed and more than 3,000 indecent child images were recovered.

A total of 47 images were at category A - the most serious level of offending.

The court heard more than 100,000 further images were also found but were not examined in line with prosecution guidelines.

Rapson was then released on bail but continued to offend.

More illegal material was found on computer equipment taken from his parents' home and from his own home in Batley ten months later.

They included images of himself wearing children's underwear.

Rapson, of Cardigan Close, Batley, pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent photographs of children, one of possessing prohibited images of children and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Rapson was previously given an extended prison sentence totalling ten years, imposed in 2009, for sexually abusing a young boy and downloading more than 20,000 indecent images of youngsters from the internet.

At the time he also admitted taking 13 indecent photographs of unknown youngsters in public.

Sentencing Rapson for his latest offences, Judge Simon Phillips QC said: "This was systematic and sustained breaching of the terms of your sexual offences prevention order.

"It was offending on a substantial and technologically sophisticated scale."

A probation service report assessed Rapson as posing a significant risk of harm "based on a preoccupation with children."

Judge Philiips imposed an eight-year extended prison sentence.

Rapson must serve a custodial term of three years followed by a further five years on licence.

The defendant was told he will remain on the sex offender register for life.