A former lecturer who escaped to Ireland after being convicted of having indecent images of children has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.

Julian Myerscough, 55, was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court on September 30, 2015, of 13 counts of making indecent images of a child.

He was also found guilty of three counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which had been placed on him following a conviction for a similar offence in 2010.

But while the jury was deliberating its verdict, Myerscough – who had been living in the Manchester area – fled to Ireland by ferry.

European warrants were executed and he was arrested a few days later. But despite the Republic of Ireland trying to extradite him back to the UK, Chelmsford Crown Court heard today (Thursday) he had 'frustrated the process at every turn'.

He was released from custody last month after it was deemed too much time has passed.

Today, Her Honour Judge Emma Peters said it did not follow that just because Myerscough had been in custody for two years it should be taken off his sentence.

She said: 'If he should be arrested and brought before the court I very much hope it is before me.'

Myerscough was a criminal law lecturer at the University of East Anglia before he was sacked in 2010 after being convicted of being in possession of indecent images of children.

The 55-year-old, formerly of Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order which meant police could keep track of his computer activity.

The court heard he used software to hide his browsing history, which he had denied, and was not allowed to do.

Today it was ordered he should no longer be able to use such software and that he would be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison in his absence.