A Hampshire paedophile spared jail for having indecent images of children has appeared back in court for breaching her suspended sentence.

Sophie Louise Carter - who wore a hoodie emblazoned with 'NO PAIN NO GAIN' in the dock - failed to do unpaid work as part of her jail reprieve.

Tree surgeon Carter - who was referred to as Ms and she throughout the hearing - was previously known as Dominic.

Her original court case - reported exclusively by the Echo - ignited a firestorm debate across national newspapers and social media about trans court defendants.

The 40-year-old was handed a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months in August last year.

She had admitted three charges of making indecent images of children relating to 11 pictures.

On Friday the court heard she failed to attend unpaid work on April 14 this year having been  previously ordered to complete 120 hours.

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Prosecutor Joscelyn Lee said: “Ms Carter has been out of contact with her (probation) officer.”

Mitigating, Ed Warren said his client is vulnerable. Mr Warren said: “Ms Carter accepts it is an unhappy picture. There is an element of vulnerability here.

“There is a history in this case of cuckooing."

He said Carter had been forced to move home several times and she has "suffered physical violence".

Mr Warren added: “She is someone that is plainly vulnerable and that vulnerability has been exploited to a great degree.”

He added Carter - previously of Nottingham Place, Lee-on-the-Solent - now plans to move and “will engage with whatever it is she is asked to do by probation.”

Judge Nicholas Rowland bailed Carter, of Orchard Way, East Grinstead, until December 20.

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He told her: “I am going to adjourn this to see if anything can be salvaged from this wreckage.

“I don’t hold out any hopes but the alternative is a short prison sentence. It is up to you.”

Carter was previously ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

She was initially caught by police investigating the distribution of indecent images. She refused to give her phone to the officers, forcing them to “wrestle” it away from her.