South Tyneside pervert spared jail after admitting to having pornography involving babies and animals

Police seized 66 computer devices when they raided Alan Scott's home as a result of information they had received in March 2018.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the machines contained a total of 879 illegal images.

Prosecutor Paul Reid said 863 of the images were of children, with 251 of the pictures and movies being in the most serious category of their type.

Mr Reid said: "Those were of children who were between the ages of one and 14. A number of the images and video footage showed the children in discernible distress."

The court heard 16 of the images were of extreme pornography.

Mr Reid added: "These involved recordings of adults having sexual contact with animals."

The court heard the search terms Scott had used online "revealed he had an ongoing sexual interest in children".

He told probation officials he had been accessing illegal images for around six years.

The 64-year-old was described in court as having an ‘isolated existence’ and he initially started viewing adult pornography ‘at a time when he was caring for his mother’.

Scott, of Cumberland Place, South Shields, admitted making indecent photographs of children and possessing extreme pornography.

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced Scott, who has already sought professional help, to a three year community order with programme requirements.

The judge said the sentence would ensure Scott's problems were "fully and permanently dealt with" .

Scott must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Vic Laffey, defending, said Scott has significant health problems and has waited for two years for the case to be concluded.

Mr Laffey added: "He initially started viewing adult pornography at a time when he was caring for his mother, who has since died. Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated gradually thereafter."

Mr Laffey said Scott leads an "isolated existence" and his family has cut contact because of his offending.