Barton man must sign Sex Offender's Register after indecent images found at his home

Kenneth Black, 51, of Station Lane, Barton, Preston, has been ordered to sign the Sex Offender's Register for seven years.

Preston Magistrates' Court heard the offences happened between December 2018 and March 2020.

He pleaded guilty to having possession of indecent photographs, four extreme images involving a horse and a dog, and eight pseudo images portraying children.

Prosecuting, Peter Bardsley said the first 18 images, found on his computer equipment, were deemed Category C - Category A being the gravest.

District Judge Joanne Hirst imposed a six month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 100 hours of unpaid work and deemed it to be a one off offence that happened in a very narrow period of time.

Black was given a sexual harm prevention order for seven years restricting his internet activities, though the district judge rejected an "onerous" term about living in a household with children as there was no suggestion he has caused harm to anyone directly.

In addition he must pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

District Judge Hirst said she was confident that if he completed the court order there would be no repetition of his behaviour, and added: "It's quite right you do pay back something to the community."