Judge Thomas Teague jailed Stephen Edward Birch, of Grange Road, Chester, at a sentence hearing at Warrington Crown Court. After a trial at Chester Crown Court in July, Birch, 43, was found guilty of breaching a sexual offences prevention order by exposing himself on February 17.

The jury was told Birch rode his bicycle around Lime Wood Park in Kingsway, Newton on February 17 before stopping near to a nine-year-old girl and a 10-year-old girl and exposing himself.

Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, said the two friends were playing together at about 4.45pm when they noticed Birch circling around on his bicycle. Mr Williams said: "The girls noticed the man was cycling around and passed them a number of times on the path quite close.

"This man, the defendant, had some distinctive clothing – a dark beanie hat and a yellow high visibility jacket with silver stripes on.

"He pulls up to them and gets off his bike.

"The 10-year-old thinks he is going to ask for directions but he said 'Have you seen one of these before?' and both girls ran off."

The court heard police investigators searched Birch's flat and found the yellow high-visibility jacket and beanie hat.

In the pocket of the jacket were two indecent images of children which Birch admitted were his.

The images had been downloaded from his computer three days before the incident.

He was also sentenced for possessing these images.

During evidence Birch admitted possessing the indecent images but insisted that he was not "sexually interested in children."

He said: "I don't find children sexually exciting. I found the picture exciting. I found it appealing."

The jury heard Birch has previous convictions including indecent assault, violating a by-law by exposing himself and failing to notify police of a change of address contrary to the Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

After he was convicted Birch said: "It wasn't me."