A Harpenden man caught with child sex abuse images again was told by a judge he would “spend longer and longer behind bars” if he kept reoffending.

Mohammed Hussain, 25, of Longfield Road, Harpenden, was freed after having spent the past six months on remand in prison after a police officer found a half-dressed image of a girl under 17 on his iPhone on March 12, 2014.

Prosecutor Ann Evans told St Albans Crown Court that after the police officer challenged Hussain on her discovery, he replied “My brother used the mobile. It isn’t mine.”

A computer was examined and under a file called “Mohammed Hussain” the police found naked pictures of girls.

There were two movies and nine images in the most serious level, category A, two movies and seven images at category B and four movies at category C, the least serious.

When questioned by the police Hussain denied the offences but when he appeared in court he pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual prevention order and possessing and downloading images.

Hussain was jailed for nine months for sexual activity with a girl under 16 in November 2012 and was placed on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.

He was released from prison in May 2013 and returned to his home in Harpenden but in October of that year was found to have been downloading indecent images of children and was given a community order.

It was due to expire on November 28, 2016 with a five year sexual offences prevention order that included a condition that on any internet device he has, he should keep his browsing history.

Tim Clark, defending, said Hussain had been in custody since December 10, the equivalent of a 12 month sentence.

He added that Hussain now admitted downloading the material and said there were a relatively small number of images.

Judge Andrew Bright QC said: “Your predilection for child pornography has got you in trouble time and time again.

“You seem to have made a habit out of downloading it.”

The judge said that it was tempting to lock him up “for as long as he could” but he would not receive treatment on his release from prison.

He sentenced him to 12 months in prison suspended for two years with an indefinite sexual prevention order which included conditions that he had internet history recording on his computer and phone, did not use social network sites and did not delete his online chat history.

He must not use a computer unless monitoring software is installed, must not approach a girl under 16 and must not have more than one mobile or SIM card.

He will also be on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

The judge told him: “You have got one last chance. If you re-offend you will go to prison for a longer and longer period.”