A convicted paedophile who "blatantly" defied a court order is likely to be spared prison, despite a judge admitting he deserved to be locked up.

Denis Lane, aged 63, faced a maximum sentence of up to five years after pleading guilty to breaking the terms of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by collecting photos and videos of young children.

Lane, who was jailed for ten years in 1996 for sex offences against two girls, was told by Judge Linda Sutcliffe she planned to impose a community order instead of putting him behind bars again.

The judge said he "richly deserved" a custodial sentence for such a "blatant breach" of the order but added: "My main concern is to ensure it does not happen again."

Because of the sentencing rules relevant to the offence, Lane would receive only "piecemeal" treatment in jail for his personality disorder and it would be of a short duration, said the judge.

Making a three-year community order, including intensive supervision and treatment on a sex offender programme, would allow the work to continue over a long period.

After it was pointed out that Lane no longer had a home, Judge Sutcliffe adjourned the case for three weeks and remanded him in custody while his situation is assessed. But she warned him: "This is not intended as a soft option."

If he did not co-operate with the order he would be given two-thirds of the five-year term - 40 months.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Lane was given a ten-year-stretch by a judge at Luton Crown Court for having unlawful sex with an 11-year-old girl and indecently assaulting a girl aged seven.

He was released in 2002, but recalled to prison after being found with magazines containing pictures of young girls. During his time inside, cell searches uncovered similar pictures.

He was released again in October 2003 and the following year a district judge at Wakefield granted a police application for a sexual offences prevention order.

That order banned him from possessing anything relating to pictures of young children.

When two detectives visited his flat in Woodview Terrace, Manningham, earlier this year they found a CD containing pictures of children and a large number of videos, together with magazine cuttings also featuring children.

None of the pictures were of a pornographic nature but his client had admitted using them for sexual gratification, said David McGonigal, representing Lane.

"He is aware of the risk he poses but he may well, given proper treatment, respond to that treatment," he said.