A PERVERT who took photos of children and amassed a collection of more than 10,000 indecent images has been jailed.

Jason McSorley also abused one girl after befriending her family at a church and grooming the youngster with gifts, a court heard.

He was today (Friday, February 14) jailed for a total of two years and four months, and placed on the sex offenders' register for the next ten years.

Judge Howard Crowson told the 42-year-old that he would continue to be a risk unless he sought help for his "unhealthy interest".

Teesside Crown Court heard how McSorley's sickening library of pictures was found by police at his east Cleveland home in 2012.

Friends had earlier contacted the NSPCC after seeing him taking photos of strangers and finding inappropriate images on his lap-top.

McSorley had already been charged and appeared in court, when it was discovered he had abused one of the girls in the pictures.

He has since pleaded guilty to taking, making and possessing indecent images of children and two charges of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said almost 11,000 photos were found - including some he had taken from the bedroom window of his flat.

Peter Wishlade, mitigating, told the court that McSorley was "extremely vulnerable" and had brain damage to his frontal lobe.

He said vigilantes forced him from his home in Stakesby Close in Guisborough after learning of his sordid double-life.

Judge Crowson refused to accept McSorley's account to probation workers and a psychiatrist that he no longer has an interest in children.

He said: "I very much hope it will be possible for you to receive assistance. Should you not be able to put behind you this kind of act, I can promise you a much longer sentence in the future.

"You had a fascination with young girls that was a sexual one. I do not believe that you have lost that fascination.

"Therefore there is concern on your release about how you will behave."

McSorley was also banned from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16, and from having an device capable of taking photographs.

Under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which will run indefinitely, the judge also imposed restrictions on his computer use.