An American man has been arrested after allegedly pretending to be a young girl online in an attempt to get Australian girls to send him naked photos.

Shaun Dickson, 22, was allegedly pretending to be an 11-year-old girl on Instagram and contacted many underage girls for sexually explicit content.

Investigators allege the 22-year-old convinced an eight-year-old Australian girl to send him nude images.

According to investigators Dickson threatened the young girl when she wouldn't send more images and shared them around with other people.

Shaun Dickson (pictured), 22, was allegedly pretending to be an 11-year-old girl on Instagram and contacted many underage girls for sexually explicit content

Officers found images of the eight-year-old on several devices in Dickson's home, the Courier Journal reported.

The 22-year-old was charged on Friday for possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by minor, prohibited use of an electronic communications device to procure a minor for a sex offence and use of a minor under 16 years in a sexual performance.

It isn't the first time the 22-year-old is facing child pornography charges, as he was on house arrest for the same offences when he got arrested.

Looking over court records on Friday morning, Jefferson District Judge Amber Wolf said: 'He was on home incarceration for the same exact offences in circuit court'.

Dickson was awaiting trial in May for the similar charges.

After a three month investigation, Dickson was found to be allegedly sending sexually explicit pictures to a minor in Greece via Skype, and was arrested in November 2017.

He was told he wasn't allowed to have any communication devices.

Investigators allege the 22-year-old asked an eight-year-old Australian girl to send him nude images (stock image)

However, investigators say Dickson violated those orders and became a re-offender, targeting several minors from Australia.

The case against the 22-year-old is ongoing and investigators say more victims may turn up.

Dickson is currently being held in Louisville Metro Corrections with a court date set for March 11.

In an arraignment hearing on Friday, Dickson's bond was set at $250,000 and he was told he isn't to use any electronic devices or contact underage children.