A pervert who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals has avoided jail.
Police executed a warrant at Paul Waddington’s home on Claremont Road in Accrington on February 14 last year and seized a number of computers.
Burnley Crown Court heard how 443 indecent child images were found across three computers with the most serious involving children aged between 10 and 15.
Waddington, 55, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photos of children and one count each of possessing indecent images, possessing extreme images involving sexual activity with animals and possessing a prohibited images of children.
He was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years with supervision, a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £350 costs.
Judge Jonathan Gibson also imposed a sexual harm prevention order and police notification requirements for seven years.
Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, said the offences involved 117 category A images – the most serious – along with 130 category B and 196 category C images and two videos.
Warehouse worker Waddington also had 27 extreme pornographic images and three other prohibited images of children and one video.
Mr Grout-Smith said Waddington was interviewed twice by police and made ‘full and frank admissions’.
James Heyworth, defending, said he has no relevant or recent convictions and is unlikely to offend again.
He told the court: “He has in my submission, and it can’t always be said for defendants in these cases, been remarkably open and honest with the probation service.
“He has in no way sought to abdicate responsibility or in any way legitimise what he was doing. He has shown genuine remorse.
“There have been consequences to his actions.
“There is a punitive fallout of engaging in this sort of behaviour which goes beyond just the punishment that the court has and must impose.
“It has had a significant impact on his family life and how those within his family view him.
“It has been a source of understandable but real shame as far as Mr Waddington is concerned.”
