Serial offender James Hemmings, 70, of Brockhill Way, Penarth, was locked up after he breached a sexual harm prevention order.
He used social media applications Snapchat and TikTok under usernames other than his own name, something he was forbidden from doing under the terms of the order imposed in June 2017.
Sexual harm prevention orders are designed to limit the behaviour of offenders and reduce the risk of further offending, including restricting internet use and social media activity.
Hemmings was jailed for 30 weeks at Cardiff Crown Court by Judge Eugene Egan imposed a 30-week prison sentence.
The sexual harm prevention order was imposed nine years ago when the defendant was caught with child sex abuse images.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornographic images and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.
In total there were 14 category A images, eight category B images, 224 category C images, 232 prohibited images and 20 of extreme pornography.
These included three prohibited videos and 17 extreme pornographic videos.
Harry Baker, prosecuting, said: “A warrant was executed at Hemmings’ home on February 2 this year and various items were taken but Hemmings wasn’t present.
“He was eventually located and in Scotland and arrested on February 3.”
Officers found an iPhone in a black case and in interview Hemmings admitted he had been looking at the images.
He had also viewed them on an iPad but said that he had deleted them.
A micro SD card was found inside a Sony smartphone where the images were discovered.
Mr Baker said Hemmings has previous convictions in June 2007 for making indecent photos of children and in September 2007 for indecent assault.
James Evans, mitigating, said that Hemmings had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He recognised the previous convictions were the main aggravating factor but said, “these were 10 years ago and there must be some dilution in terms of being an aggravating factor.
Recorder Greg Bull told Hemmings: “You failed to realise that when you download these images, that the child is a real child who is subject to abuse.
“The child is having their life ruined and being portrayed in this way is encouraged by the likes of you.
“You committed these offences while you were on registration on the sex offenders register but nothing prevented you from doing what you did.
“You are not of good character. You have a worrying past.”
He jailed Hemmings for 16 months and he was made the subject of the sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
