Hundreds of indecent pictures of children found on laptop of Emsworth pensionerÂ

MORE than 500 indecent images of children as young as four were found on a pensioner's computer.
Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Cesar Moreno HuertaPortsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Cesar Moreno Huerta
Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Cesar Moreno Huerta

Peter Shirt appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs of children consisting of 69 category A images, the worst kind, 58 category B images and 372 category C images.

He also admitted two charges of distributing indecent photographs of children consisting of one category A photograph and six category C.

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Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said: '˜The defendant was arrested on October 2, 2017 when police traced the IP address after an indecent picture was uploaded.

Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Cesar Moreno HuertaPortsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Cesar Moreno Huerta
Portsmouth Crown Court. Picture: Cesar Moreno Huerta

'˜He wasn't at home but they examined his computer after getting consent from him over the phone.

'˜When his laptop was examined, the images listed in the offences were found. They dated between May 2016 and October 2017.

'˜The children were a young age including aged five to six. Images related to the category A offences were of children as young as four.

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'˜Chat logs were found on the computer that date from early 2014 but these did not form part of the charges. They contained very disturbing material.

'˜He has sent photographs but it is not known what they consisted of.'

Mr Lawson told the court that when interviewed by police, 67-year-old Shirt denied searching for the images but said he had seen some online.

'˜He also denied any sexual attraction towards children,' Mr Lawson added.

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Shirt, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for two years. He will also sign a sexual harm prevention order and have to sign the sexual offenders register. He must pay £350 court costs and £140 victim surcharge.

Matthew Farmer, mitigating for Shirt, of Woolmer Street, Emsworth, said he was a carer for his wife who has learning disabilities and was a '˜very lonely man' when the offences occurred.

He added: '˜He needs help and assistance.'