Grandad had 1,222 images of child porn

WHEELCHAIR-BOUND grandfather Peter Jones has been spared jail after downloading more than 1,000 child porn images.

The 61-year-old, of Wignall Road, Sandyford, was also caught with hundreds of 'extreme' pornographic images of adults.

Computer equipment seized from Jones's home was found to contain 362 child porn images classed at levels four and five – with level six being the most disturbing category.

He had also downloaded 108 images at level three, 84 at level two and 668 at level one.

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Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the majority of the images were of children aged 13 or below.

A further 233 images were adult images which were described as 'of an extreme nature'.

Now Jones, pictured, – who has been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for five years – has been sentenced to a three-year community order which will include a sex offenders' rehabilitation programme.

Jones had pleaded guilty to 10 counts of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of possessing indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images at an earlier hearing.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said the offences had brought 'shame' on Jones and his wider family.

He said: "These are quite clearly shameful offences and disgusting offences.

"They involve young children and children younger than 13.

"You are adding to the market which exists. A market which involves inevitable exploitation.

"Some of these children are abused physically, some are abused emotionally and psychologically."

The judge accepted Jones's claim that he came across the images accidentally during searches for adult pornography.

But he added: "It is clear, as well, that this happened over a sustained amount of time.

"It is a sad day because it brings shame on you but, consequentially, a sense of shame and dismay on behalf of your family."

The court heard police raided Jones's home on November 25 after being tipped off.

The indecent images dated back to September 2010.

Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said: "He asserts he was simply looking at porn per se. But he accepts that, whatever arrived, he did not delete it immediately and saved it.

"The vast majority of these images relate to children under 13."

Robert Smith, mitigating, said his client had no previous offences and was known to his family as a loving father and grandfather.

Mr Smith said: "He has suffered shame and indignity and this has worsened his already poor state of health.

"He wants to get to the root of what has made him do this in the first place."