A SEX offender living at an undeclared address was found to be in possession of indecent images of children, a court heard.

Andrew Dixon was jailed for two years in 2016 for distributing 111 images of children aged three to 16 to 300 “followers” worldwide.

Durham Crown Court was told he was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), restricting his internet use, and sex offender registration, for ten years.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said on May 20 2020, when police were doing a monitoring check, Dixon was supposed to be living at his parents’ address, in Horden.

Instead, it emerged he was living at his partner’s address in Quetlaw Road, Wheatley Hill, and she disclosed he had stayed there since the start of the pandemic restrictions, in March last year.

Devices were seized from Dixon and when interviewed, he said he was not responsible for the possession of any indecent child images.

Analysis of the seized devices revealed 85 such images, 68 of them moving, 38 in the most serious category.

There were also six extreme pornographic images and a single prohibited cartoon image of an underage child.

All were downloaded between April 29 and May 19.

Dixon, 46, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, one each of possession of extreme pornographic and a prohibited image, plus failure to comply with notification requirements as a sex offender.

David Lamb, mitigating, said following his release from prison, in May 2017, the defendant was not offered any form of treatment on a sex offender programme.

Mr Lamb said Dixon found work and was living with his elderly parents.

“But, when the pandemic began in March last year he took the decision, albeit in full knowledge that he should not do so, to move in with his girlfriend and he did not inform the authorities.

“He lived there for about two months until his ultimate arrest for these matters.”

Mr Lamb said Dixon acts as an unofficial carer to both his parents and partner, who has health issues, and all will be without his assistance should he be jailed.

Judge James Adkin said given the nature of the material found, including images of drugged children in distress at being abused, combined with the previous conviction, the 15-month prison sentence had to be served immediately.

He also made Dixon subject to registration as a sex offender and a SHPO, both for a further ten years.