A high risk sex offender who previously abused school children has been jailed for explicit images involving youngsters. 

Andrew Ryan, 41, admitted viewing sexual images of children as young as three following a police raid on his home.  

Norwich Crown Court was told a tip-off by the National Crime Agency about file sharing of illegal material online had been passed to Norfolk officers leading to his arrest in March 2021.   

Images of young girls estimated to be aged between three and 14 were discovered on a Samsung mobile phone seized in the raid.

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Hollie Davies-Regan, prosecuting, said one image involved a girl aged about six involved in a sex act with two men. 

Eastern Daily Press: Images of sex acts involving children as young as three were found on phone belonging to Andrew RyanImages of sex acts involving children as young as three were found on phone belonging to Andrew Ryan (Image: PA)

Ryan, of Thistledown Road in Horsford, had previously been jailed for five-and-a-half years in 2012 for 24 offences, including sexual grooming, causing children to engage in sexual activity and indecent images, she added.

The court was told he had deliberately sought employment at a school to gain access to children who he had abused.

His latest offences were committed while he was still on licence following his release from prison.

He pleaded guilty to possessing seven category A images - the most serious - as well as nine category B and 16 category C between January and May 2021.  

READ MORE: Norwich man admits making indecent images of four-year-olds

The court heard he had been found to still pose a “high risk” of serious harm to children despite engaging with sex offender management programmes.  

Eastern Daily Press: Judge Andrew Shaw said he was 'greatly troubled' by a report into the risk posed by RyanJudge Andrew Shaw said he was 'greatly troubled' by a report into the risk posed by Ryan (Image: Newsquest)

Rob Pollington, mitigating, said he had been attempting to address the “illness” in his behaviour but that this had been a slip.

Judge Andrew Shaw said: “I am greatly troubled by the pre-sentence report and the frank admission you have made concerning your deviant sexual interest in children with drugs, cocaine especially, as a trigger factor.”

He handed him an extended four-and-a-half year sentence to include 18 months in jail and three years on licence.   

“This is the least sentence this court can impose to manage the risk you pose,” he told him.