A SEX offender convicted of sexual activity with a child was given additional prison time after breaching the terms of an order by posting pictures of himself online.

Jordan Larcombe, 23, of Chale Green, was caught out when police officers found an Instagram account he had started, including communications with a young female, and references to a Snapchat account, Rose Burns, prosecuting, told the IW Crown Court.

A court order prohibits Larcombe from having an internet enabled device without notifying police, which he did not do.

Ms Burns told the court that Larcombe had breached his sexual harm prevention order on a previous occasion and had been sent back to prison.

He then breached the order again, having acquired a mobile phone and posted on social media.

He was released in April and went to live with his mother. It wasn't until May 29 that police found the account.

Larcombe admitted the breach and said that he had felt lonely in prison and his friends had ditched him.

Ms Burns said: "He is a persistent breacher of this order. It presents a serious risk.

"He is messaging young girls with the intention of meeting up with them."

For Larcombe, Oscar Vincent said his client had been living an isolated existence since his release from prison, with no prospect of employment and no social interaction.

Mr Vincent said that Larcombe's communications from the phone were mostly one-way, with only one person responding, who was a 20-year-old ex-girlfriend of his.

Mr Vincent said the breach did not represent sophisticated activity and was very easily detected, with no attempt made to hide his identity.

"Mr Larcombe is 23 years of age, but does have have a low IQ. He has learning difficulties and if he were school age, he would be classed as special needs," Mr Vincent said.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Mousley said: "This was a deliberate breach and constituted a very high risk of causing harm.

"This is not the first time you have breached the order and you have a history of failing to comply with other court orders."

Larcombe was sentenced to 16 months in prison.