A PAEDOPHILE who dodged prison when he was caught with hundreds of indecent images of children is behind bars after he committed similar crimes within months.

Stephen Midgley was said to have a "compulsion" and was told by a judge he has a "gravely concerning lack of empathy"as he was jailed for three years and four months.

The 23-year-old was traced through a website where he chatted with other perverts about child abuse and swapped sick pictures involving girls as young as two.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, at Teesside Crown Court, told him there were many worrying parts of a pre-sentence report compiled after an interview with a probation officer.

And Midgley's own barrister, Nigel Soppitt, admitted his behaviour was "depraved" and said: "It is clearly aggravated by the fact he has committed similar offences previously."

Midgley, of Mount Pleasant, Stockton, was caught in July - just eight months after he was given a community order wit a treatment programme for almost identical crimes.

The court heard how the former farm worker had not started the sex offenders' course before his second arrest, but Soppitt said he was keen to get help.

"The facts themselves are alarming, but what is, perhaps, more alarming in this case is the thought-problems mentioned in the pre-sentence report," he told the court.

"It is a remarkably frank document. It shows what could well be almost a compulsion to offend. The very fact he admits that could be a starting point for reform.

"He is saying 'I'm sorry, I can't help myself' . . . He has done his best to try to get to the root of this evil problem. He understands it's depraved and wrong."

Judge Bourne-Arton told him: "You have shown no empathy at all, and limited insight as to the problems and the fact that there are real victims here.

"It is also considerably worrying to read in the pre-sentence report that which you wish to carry out, an act you wish to carry out in respect of young relatives."

Bespectacled Midgley admitted charges of making and distributing indecent images of children, and inciting their distribution, at an earlier court hearing.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said he used a false name on email to communicate with other paedophiles, and said: "I'm up to chat and trade, if you like."

More than 350 pictures and movies were found of Midgley's mobile phone - mostly depicting girls aged between two and 11 - and "multiple images of toddlers", said Mr Hadfield.