A PAEDOPHILE scout leader who was spared prison first time round has been jailed for three years by top judges.

Matthew Ian Bell, 28, sexually assaulted an eight-year-old in a hut after telling him off and was also caught with indecent images of children at his home.

Bell was given a two-year suspended sentence and a sex offenders' treatment order at Hull Crown Court last November, despite pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault on a child under 13 and two counts of making indecent images of children.

At London's Appeal Court on Wednesday, the attorney general, Jeremy Wright QC, attacked that sentence as far too soft.

Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Holroyde and Mr Justice Haddon-Cave agreed, and jailed Bell for three years instead.

The court heard Bell, of Forester's Walk, Stamford Bridge, had worked at HMP Full Sutton and had been in the scouting movement since he was a youth.

He became an assistant district commissioner in 2013 and had been a leader since 2009.

On one occasion, Bell caught two boys misbehaving and ordered them into a scout hut. He sexually assaulted one while the other was ordered to wait outside.

The boy gave up cubs and later told his parents what had happened.

Police recovered scout-related pornography, including stories and images, at Bell's home.

Lawyers for Bell argued that he stood more chance of successfully addressing his problems and reforming if not sent to jail. But Lady Justice Hallett said he couldn't be allowed to go free.

"The sentencing judge made a significant reduction to his term without justification. This offence was part of an overall pattern of offending."

Bell has until 1pm on Thursday to put his affairs in order and surrender to his local police station.