A newly-retired South Derbyshire District Council worker had more than 1,000 child abuse images on his computer, a court has heard.

Police also found an extreme pornographic image of a woman engaged in sexual activity with a horse when they analysed a hard drive seized from Gary Clarkson, of Repton.

Derby Crown Court was told how the married man's internet address was linked to downloading indecent child images and film, more than 200 of which were the most serious category A type, which typically show young children engaged in sex with adults.

Clarkson was found with more than 1,000 child abuse images on his computer.

When the 56-year-old former South Derbyshire District Council housing worker was interviewed by the police following his arrest, Clarkson admitted that he was turned on by viewing the films and photographs.

Handing him an 11-month prison term, suspended for two years, Judge Jonathan Bennett said: "Obviously what happened when the police came to your address with a search warrant on January 19 changed your life forever.

"It brought to light a secret world in which you had indulged your fantasies over a considerable period of time. These are not just pictures, they show real children being abused and you became obsessed with this as time went on.

"The public treats this offence very seriously indeed. However it seems in this case there’s a real prospect of rehabilitation."

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said police executed a search warrant at Clarkson’s home address, in Main Street, Milton, near Repton, in January.

They seized devices from him and, when analysed, a USB hard drive was found to contain 213 category A indecent images or movies, 183 category B and 669 category C.

Also found was an extreme pornographic image of a woman engaged in a sexual act with a horse.

Miss Slater said: "He was arrested and, in two interviews, made full admissions that he had been downloading indecent images of children since 2003 and that he got sexual gratification from viewing them. In his second interview, he accepted full responsibility for his offending."

Clarkson pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image. The court was told that he has no previous convictions or any kind.

David Outterside, for Clarkson, said his client had worked in local Government until his retirement three weeks ago and now cared for his 72-year-old wife who suffers glaucoma.

He said: "He is deeply ashamed at what he has done and is particularly ashamed because of the effect it has had on his wife. Up until this awful mess, his life was one of hard work and decency and these proceedings have cast a long shadow over him."

Clarkson admitted that he was turned on by viewing the films and photographs.

As well as the suspended jail term, Judge Bennett made Clarkson the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

He will also be on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years and must undertake 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days with the probation service.

Clarkson will be the subject of a curfew confining him to his home address for four months between 7pm and 6am each night and was ordered to pay £235 prosecution costs.

Speaking after sentencing, an NSPCC spokesman said: "Clarkson spent years scouring the web to find these horrific images and videos without a care in the world for the victims in them. Countless children would have gone through hell and suffered the worst of kind sexual abuse imaginable to make this material.

"It is imperative that he gets the right treatment to stop him from reoffending. Internet companies and authorities must also take their responsibilities seriously and work together to stop this sick content from being published and to make sure it is quickly taken down when it does appear online."

Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children can speak to a dedicated counsellor at Childline on 800 1111.

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