A CWMBRAN man has been sentenced to four years in prison for possessing and distributing hundreds of indecent images of children.

Christopher Norris, 62, was also jailed for six years back in 2008 for similar offences as well as a historic sexual assault offence, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.

Norris, of Milton Close in Cwmbran, had pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photographs, three counts of distributing indecent photographs, and a further count of breaching a sexual offences prevention order in relation to his previous conviction.

Prosecutor Gareth James said a Toshiba laptop, an Acer laptop, and a USB stick were recovered from Norris' home, during a police search on December 10 last year.

The court heard indecent images and films were recovered from all three devices, with a total of 403 in category A - the most serious - 224 in category B, and a further 370 in category C.

Police said the laptops' search histories showed a "determined search for child abuse images", the court heard.

Mr James said Norris told police that he distributed some of the images and films to others with a similar interest.

Norris also told police he had an interest in girls from the age of nine upwards but that on occasions he "would be disgusted with himself", the court heard.

David Maunder, defending, said: "These are always difficult cases. In interview, [he gave] full and frank admissions including the way he felt towards himself.

"It's almost impossible to try and explain in any sense this behaviour, but it would appear it must have gone back to a dysfunctional family home.

"He equates [his offending] to an addiction. He doesn't want to be doing it.

"The defendant was visibly crestfallen when he was told there is no alternative to a custodial sentence - he had benefitted from rehabilitation. This is a major setback."

Judge Patrick Curran QC said although Norris had benefitted from the treatment programme, he had not been able to "resist the temptation to indulge".

He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, of which he will serve half in custody. Norris was also prohibited from having any contact with any child under the age of 16 under the sexual harm prevention order.