A man who downloaded more than 500 indecent images of children and breached a sexual harm prevention order has been warned he could be jailed when he is sentenced next month.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday was Dominic Robinson, 36, of Hunting Gate, Colchester.

He admitted three offences of making indecent images of children on or before January 23 this year, possessing an extreme pornographic image of a person performing a sex act with an animal, two offences of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and engaging in sexual communication with a child for sexual gratification.

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The court heard that Robinson had two indecent images of children in the most serious level A category, 11 category B images and 543 indecent images of children in the lowest level C category.

Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley adjourned sentence until April for a pre-sentence report which she said should consider the issue of dangerousness.

She warned Robinson to expect a prison sentence but said the pre-sentence report would look at alternatives to immediate custody, which would prevent him from reoffending.