A "high-risk" paedophile who was in possession of hundreds of the most serious form of child sexual imagery has been given a further eight months in prison.

Yousaf Khurshid had already been serving 16 months in prison – including the activation of four months of a previously suspended sentence – for similar offences, and was released in July of this year.

In 2021, Khurshid was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, and placed on the sex offenders’ register for the possession of thousands of child pornography images alongside a paedophile "manual" giving advice on how to abuse young girls.

On Wednesday, September 18, Bolton Crown Court heard that Khurshid, 32, had possessed hundreds of illegal images in Bolton in March 2023.

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In June 2023, Khurshid was sentenced to 12 months immediate custody plus four months from a suspended sentence issued in February 2022 for possessing images.

After using forensic wiping tools to erase evidence of his crimes from his personal devices, officers took time to recover more data from his devices.

After being released from prison in July of this year, he was then re-arrested and remanded in custody on August 14.

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As a result, Khurshid – who appeared on video link from HMP Forest Bank – was sentenced to a further eight months’ imprisonment for the additional material found on his devices.

Defending, barrister Wayne Jackson said: “He hopes to work with probation, he hopes to try and improve his life and to manage his urges – I’ll put it that way.”

Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said Khurshid was a "high-risk registered sex offender" who was "sophisticated" in his use of technology, having used VPNs and Tor to access websites, as well as forensic wiping software to erase evidence.

He added that the offences were "extremely serious" given his past history.

Giving regard to the 16 month sentence which had previously been imposed, Judge Clarke imposed a further eight month sentence.

Khurshid will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement for 10 years following his release.

Prosecuting barrister Andrew Pickin made an application for Khurshid’s devices to be forfeited and destroyed, which was accepted.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.