A self-confessed “danger to the public” who sent a picture of himself wearing a nappy to a regional daily journalist has been jailed.

Harry Simmons has been given a nine-week custodial sentence after he sent messages to a Dorset Echo reporter in which he also wore a sign which read ‘I’m a pedo’.

The serial online abuser, pictured, was told at a previous hearing he would “not be going back to prison” after admitting the offence.

But he is currently in HMP Lewes after breaking a community order and the sentence will run concurrently with his current sentence, for which he is due to be released from prison in June 2023.

According to the Echo, Weymouth Magistrates Court heard how the 22-year-old serial offender, who has been convicted six times for the same offence, was contacted via Facebook by the reporter after a tip-off from a concerned member of the public, who raised the alarm about him being in the Weymouth area.

Andrew Newman, prosecuting, told the court: “A message was sent to the Dorset Echo Facebook inbox page from a concerned member of the public.

“This was a tip-off that said the defendant had moved to the area and had previous offending of sending inappropriate material to underage girls.

“The reporter contacted him and he replied with a image of him wearing a nappy and a sign which read ‘I’m a pedo’.

“He then sent another message stating ‘I’m a danger to the public’ and asking if posters could be printed out and put up across Weymouth warning people that he was in the area.

“The reporter immediately blocked him and contacted the police.”

In a statement read out in court, the unnamed reporter said: “It felt as though he was getting a thrill from it. It made me feel sick.”

Simmons had pleaded guilty in Junde to a charge of sending grossly offensive matter deemed indecent, which covered multiple obscene or menacing messages via Facebook.

Simon Lacey, defending, told the sentencing hearing: “He has issues with mental health and he is a very pleasant person to talk to.”

Chair of the bench Martyn McCarthy said: “It’s a serious offence due to the inappropriate messages which were sent.

“The defendant did not respect the victim and how they would react.”

Simmons was given a nine-week custodial sentence to run concurrently with his current sentence.

He must also pay a surcharge of £128.

HTFP has approached the Echo for a comment.