A PAEDOPHILE from Worcester who sexually abused a boy and had hundreds of indecent images of children is now behind bars.

Michael Beckley of Warndon, Worcester, carried out sexual assaults against the boy, aged just six, in a bedroom and then told him 'it's our secret'.

The 35-year-old admitted two counts of assaulting the same boy under the age of 13 years by touching, two counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing prohibited images of children.

One of the assaults happened between December 24, 2017 and January 7 last year and the second on January 22 last year. Because of the assaults officers

seized Beckley's phone and laptop which revealed he had been viewing illegal images of children for four years.

On those devices, which the court ordered to be destroyed, police found indecent images of children - 18 at category B, 181 at category C and 352 prohibited images of children.

Beckley made these indecent images between July 1, 2014 and November 27, 2017.

Beckley was jailed for 16 months at Worcester Crown Court.

DS Samantha Bache of CID Worcester said: “The impact on the family of the child involved in this case cannot be underestimated.

"The investigating officer and West Mercia Police are really pleased with the sentence awarded.

"This sentence shows how seriously the courts take this type of offending and should act as a deterrent to other offenders.

"Mr Beckley will be on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years which will involve him being closely monitored upon his release from prison.

"Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are also a very useful preventative tool to protect the public and specifically children from future harm."