A ONE-time senior Catholic priest previously jailed for child pornography offences has been put behind bars again for a similar offence after 'losing control'.

Michael Patrick O’Kelly, of Gainsborough Road, Basingstoke was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, 10 November to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children at an earlier hearing.

O’Kelly, 62, was previously Reading’s most senior Catholic priest until he was convicted of a child pornography offence in March 2002 which led to him being suspended from church duties and being sentenced to nine months in prison.

He was also put on the sex offenders register when he was sentenced in 2002 which meant police carried out a random spot search on O'Kelly on December 1, 2016, during where he surrendered a mobile phone.

The court heard that the phone contained 62 category A images - the worst classification - 70 category B and 209 category C images of children, with those in the category A photographs being “particularly young”.

Defending, Adrienne Knight said: “This is the second time this has happened, however since Mr O’Kelly’s previous conviction he has tried to change.

“He had done things on his computer to try and stop himself from looking at this type of material, but he lost control.

“He understands this is a problem and has tried to get help from counsellors, he knows he has an addictive personality and really wants to change.”

Miss Knight also spoke about how O’Kelly has been visiting church and has not hidden his problems from anyone including his employer.

During sentencing Judge Keith Cutler said: “He is a man of high intelligence and he should know this is a crime and people suffer as a result.

“This type of material would not exist if people like you didn’t want to view it, it’s easy for you to say you are just one of many but it exploits children and subjects them to psychological issues.”

O’Kelly was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and made to pay an £85 victim surcharge.

Judge Cutler added: “Spend your time in thought and prayer, please ensure you do behave when you get released.”