A SEX fiend who police say is a danger to children is back behind bars after downloading porn pics of young girls from the Internet.

Kevin Hodson, 45, was on licence from an eight-year jail term for raping a schoolgirl when his home in Clayton-le-Moors was raided by officers last November.

Hodson was jailed for 16 months and made the subject of an indefinite Sex Offences Prevention Order after a judge said she didn't think he posed a significant risk to the public - although the probation service and police officer involved in the case thought he did.

Detective Constable Wendy Rimmer, of the Public Protection Unit based in Accrington, said after the hearing: "I am a bit disappointed with the length of sentence but hopeful that the prevention order will go some way to protecting children in the future."

The defendant, of Alma Street, admitted four counts of possessing indecent photos. He had already been recalled to custody and the 16 months will run consecutive to his original sentence.

Hodson must not associate with or contact anybody under 16 and must not have anybody under 16 in his home. He is also banned from possessing any computer equipment with an Internet connection at his house.

Judge Beverley Lunt said the defendant didn't make, distribute or publish the photos and while some were "very, very bad indeed", it was a very limited number.

She said she was not satisfied he posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public.

Tina Landale, prosecuting, told the court police searched Hodson's home where he lived alone. His computer equipment was seized, forensically examined and found to contain 64 indecent images of girls between 10 and 17.

She added that in November 1999, at Preston Crown Court, the defendant had been jailed for eight years for rape and indecent assault.

When arrested for that offence, police also found images of naked children between nine and 16 in various poses and taking part in sex on his computer.

He was released in November 2004 and recalled by the Home Office on 24 April this year.

Martin Hackett, defending, said if Hodson had been a man of good character or had unrelated previous convictions, he would be facing a sentence of about 12 months.

The vast majority of the images were at the least serious level. He had not distributed them or looked to make financial gain.