A man has been given a three-year community order after a court heard more than 1,000 indecent images and movies of children were found on his computer equipment.

Stephen Burton’s computer and memory cards were seized in Wellington Street, Lindley, in June this year and he admitted he was responsible for looking at them.

A total of 229 still and 209 moving images at Category A, the most serious, were found along with 203 still and 109 moving images at category B and 425 still and 36 moving images at Category C.

Duncan Ritchie, prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court, said Burton immediately admitted when interviewed before the computer equipment was examined that such images would be discovered.

He said he had used pornography when his wife entered the final stages of a fatal illness.

Interviewed after the equipment was analysed he said his interest was in girls aged seven to 14 and would delete images if they featured younger children.

Stephen Burton’s computer and memory cards were seized and found to have more than 1,000 indecent images on them (stock image)
Stephen Burton’s computer and memory cards were seized and found to have more than 1,000 indecent images on them (stock image)

He admitted obtaining sexual gratification from them and said he had since his arrest sought help from the Lucy Faithful organisation.

Michael Sisson-Pell representing Burton said he had been extremely open and helpful to the police from the start and had admitted his guilty at the first opportunity.

Burton, 50, admitted six charges of making indecent images and was given a three year community programme with a 40 day rehabilitation requirement and to attend an accredited programme.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC told him: “The nature of the images that you were downloading beggar’s belief.

“You were downloading and looking at for your sexual pleasure images of little tiny children being sexually abused to satisfy your grotesque yearnings.

“Children had to undergo the most appalling ill-treatment.”

He said Burton richly deserved to go to prison but for the protection of the public his attendance on a sex offender treatment programme was more likely to reduce the risk of his doing it again.