A 'HIGH-RISK' sex offender living in Carlisle was caught with a child abuse image just three days after his release from prison.

Jordan Wright, 27, is now back behind bars after his latest offence and he could potentially remain in custody until October of 2026, the city's crown court was told.

Formerly of Lowther Street, Carlisle, he admitted possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said Wright was already a registered sex offender and categorised as "high risk" by the authorities when he came to Carlisle.

He was released from prison on licence on October 8.

The following day, said Mr Rogerson, the defendant bought a mobile phone from a Carlisle shop.

"He also purchased a quantity of sim cards," said the prosecutor. "He said he did that because he was unsure what network to choose."

But Wright did not tell his offender manager he had bought a phone.

On Monday, October 11, police were told that the defendant had been found with a mobile phone and when officers checked it they found an animate moving image - a cartoon, depicting a scene of child sexual abuse.

When questioned about it, the defendant claimed he did not know where the image came from.

Judge Richard Archer said that the prohibited image had been acquired by the defendant within hours of days of his release from jail.

This was "indicative" of his risky behaviour and his "entrenched" sexual offending, said the judge.

Judge Archer added: "I have no doubt that you were dangerous when you were sentenced in 2018; and I have no doubt that you are now."

But current sentencing rules meant that the sentence the judge imposed for this offence had to be concurrent with Wright's pre-existing sentence of custody, meaning it would not add to the length of time he serves in jail.

The judge imposed a 12-month jail term but noted that the conviction may well affect the Parole Board's view of the "continuing risk" Wright poses to the public.

This may thereby influence their decision about his eventual release date, observed the judge. The defendant was already on the Sex Offender Register for life.