A “DEPRAVED” and “vile” paedophile has been jailed for 26 years after admitting raping two children in Southampton.

Steven Munday pleaded guilty to 20 counts of abusing children, which including raping youngsters under the age of 13 years and recording it.

Munday, 27, stood motionless at Southampton Crown Court as he was told he would spend at least 11 years behind bars before he is able to apply for parole.

Prosecutor Rob Griffiths told the court that Munday’s reign of abuse was only ended when police interviewed him after he “accidentally posted an indecent image on Twitter”.

But after being interviewed by officers he began to admit the full extent of his sexual interest in children.

Mr Griffiths said that Munday told the police he videoed the rape of two children between December 2015 and July 2016, and on a number of occasions made them abuse each other.

He added: “He lived in terror of people finding out... for him it was a natural progression.”

Mitigating, Charles Gabb told the court the only mitigation he could offer was that he was “candid in interviews with the police” and had a “desire of changing his ways”.

In sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC said Munday posed a “significant risk of serious harm to young children”.

He added: “You have displayed your depraved sexual interest in abusing young children. Your behaviour was the most horrible, disgusting and criminal,”

Following yesterday’s hearing, Detective Sergeant Phil Jones from the Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) said: “Hampshire Constabulary’s ICAT work closely with the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command to identify the most prolific offenders and protect the most vulnerable in our society.

“This was a harrowing case of sexual abuse.”

Det Sgt Jones added: “We’re pleased this man has been identified, jailed and no longer poses a risk to children in our communities.”

Munday, of Pennine Road, Millbrook, was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for life.