A Dereham sex offender who was spared prison for sexually assaulting a teenager went on to commit 11 more offences just weeks later.

Samuel Pickering was given a suspended jail sentence in January this year for a string of charges against a child under the age of 16.

But from the date of his sentencing at Norwich Crown Court on January 12 - to March 8 - he committed 11 further offences, including making an indecent image of a child.

Now, the 28-year-old, of Boundary Close, has been given an extended 13-year prison sentence. He will serve five years in custody and a further eight on licence.

His charges were:

• Making an indecent image of a child between January 12 and March 8.

• Eight counts of attempting to incite or cause a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity between February 16 and March 6.

• Two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Pickering pleaded guilty to all 11 charges prior to his sentencing at Norwich Crown Court on July 7 this year.

He was arrested on March 7 after being found in breach of a court order by having messaging apps downloaded on his phone.

A police spokesman said he was also found to be in possession of indecent images.

It happened just weeks after he was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court in January for sexually assaulting a teenager under the age of 16.

His previous charges related to incidents between May and September 2014. The court heard that Pickering befriended his victim, offering him cash and an iPad, in order to gain his trust before carrying out the assaults.

He also sent the victim indecent messages and images, which were seen by a friend and prompted the police investigation.

Pickering, who pleaded guilty to the offences, was arrested and a subsequent search of his home address led to police seizing a number of electronic items, including his laptop and phone.

Officers found a number of messages to younger males on his mobile phone, although they were not of a sexual nature.

Pickering was given a two-year suspended sentence and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years