Man found with huge store of indecent images of children on his phone and laptop | Preston Crown Court

Liam Wilkinson was questioned at his workplace by police investigating a wider case of child pornography, Preston Crown Court was told. When officers later examined his devices at home they discovered a huge store of images including 18 featuring acts of “extreme” porn and thousands of explicit Category A, B and C pictures involving young girls largely aged between eight and 10.

The 33-year-old from Scarisbrick pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing a child porn image, one of possessing extreme pornographic material - some of it involving animals - and three counts of making indecent material. But when he appeared before a judge expecting to be sentenced he was remanded on bail until June 9 for a new report to be compiled by the probation service.

Recorder Geoffrey Lowe told him the pre-sentence report before the court had only been drawn up on the basis that he was facing the two distribution charges. The judge ordered a fresh document taking into account the other charges before the court.

“I am sure it’s not your fault, but the probation officer has prepared a report on the two serious charges of distributing just one image,” he explained. He said that a new one was now needed to include the other offences he faced before it was decided how best he should be dealt with.

And he warned Wilkinson, of Narrow Moss Lane, Scarisbrick, who has been on unconditional bail since his arrests, that a prison sentence was an option.

“These are serious matters. All options of sentence are open, including custody. I should warn you of that.”

The court was told that police had come across Wilkinson in the course of a larger investigation. They found his email address and traced him using the IP address. When they called at his home address he was not there, so they travelled to his work address. When he was interviewed he admitted he had a store of photographs on his devices but claimed he had never intended to hurt anyone. The images – a mixture of moving and still – were largely of females aged eight to 10.

He denied distributing photographs, but admitted he had downloaded his store of photos over a three-year period.

The prosecution asked the judge to order the destruction of the phone and laptop. They also asked that Wilkinson should be made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which strictly controls his access to the internet.

Barrister Amy Weir, for Wilkinson, said her client had no issue with either order. He had made a frank admission about his guilt in the matters before the court. Ms Weir said that Wilkinson was willing to do unpaid work if there was a chance of his sentence being suspended.

Recorder Lowe said the current pre-sentence report only partially dealt with the case facing Wilkinson and a fuller one was needed before a decision could be made. He said putting the case off until June 9 was the earliest time the court could deal with the matter. Wilkinson was allowed unconditional bail until the sentencing hearing.