A PAEDOPHILE who blackmailed a fellow prisoner was handed seven years after grooming teenage boys seven months after his release.

Owen Critchley was in custody for similar offences when he met another sexual offender, who offered him refuge after he became homeless.

The 28-year-old pursued teenagers over Facebook and Snapchat, buying them cigarettes and alcohol to encourage his victims.

He sent messages to a 13-year-old boy, asking him for pictures of his penis and to perform oral sex on him in exchange for money.

He also blackmailed his friend into handing over £800, threatening to tell his employer of his deviant history, and later obtained £2,500 by duping his bank into sending him money.

John Simmons, defending, said: "I have to concede these offences are horrifying, but he had a difficult childhood. His mother struggled to cope and so he was abandoned and was forced to make his own way in the world.

"There is no doubt in my mind he has struggled to come to terms with the long-standing issues created by being abandoned by his mother at such a young age."

A mental health assessment of Critchley determined he had a personality disorder, issues with self harm and under-developed cognitive skills.

Judge Angela Morris concluded: "You sought refuge with another sex offender who you met in prison. He showed you kindness, but you took it upon yourself to demand £800 from him.

"I accept you have had a very sad and traumatised upbringing. You were abandoned by your mother and it has had a lasting effect on you.

"However, I cannot excuse your dangerous behaviour. Time and time again you have breached orders designed to protect vulnerable young men.

"I am satisfied you present serious and significant risk of causing serious harm to young and vulnerable males by committing similar offences."

Critchley, of no fixed abode, was handed a seven-year sentence for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, breach of sex offender’s notification requirement, breach of sex offences prevention order, blackmail and fraud.

He admitted to all of the charges at Reading Crown Court on Friday, May 26.