A child rapist released early from prison this year is back in jail...after being found with more than 2,000 sickening images of children.

Wesley Strudwick, 47, Swanstead, Basildon, was caged for three-and-a-half years at Basildon Crown Court.

The paedophile was handed a 14-year sentence at Ipswich Crown Court in 2010 - charges included four counts of rape on a child, one count of sexual assault on a child and two counts for making indecent images of children.

Strudwick, who was recently released from jail earlier this year after serving half his sentence, moved to Basildon from his previous home in Bulwark Road, Shoebury.

Geoff Porter, prosecuting, told Judge David Owen-Jones that Strudwick was found to be in possession of 293 highly serious category A images, 310 category B images and 1,704 category C images following a search of his Basildon property on Tuesday, May 30.

Strudwick admitted these charges and possession of extreme animal pornography too.

Judge Owen-Jones said: “The children were aged between two, three, four, six and ten.

“He put these images on various pieces of computer equipment.”

The indecent images were saved onto Strudwick’s laptop, external hard drive and tablet.

Most of the images were found on the tablet.

Matthew Bone, mitigating, said: “The court is urged not to sentence at the top level, with credit given for his guilty pleas.”

Mr Porter added: “It seems he was looking at these items on the internet looking at his internet history. Also found was a note book with notes saying; ‘sex with kids’ and ‘I am an infant’.”

Strudwick also breached his previous sexual offences prevention order by buying a laptop, external hard drive and tablet. Mr Porter said the images were downloaded from the internet.