Sunderland pervert spared jail after being caught with sick images of children aged between one and 15

Police seized computer equipment when they raided Stephen Collier's home in April last year and found a vile collection of illegal images.

Newcastle Crown Court heard a total of 125 images and movies were found, including 33 of the most serious category.

Prosecutor Joe Culley told the court: "The images depicted children aged between one and 15 years old."

Mr Culley said it was a child aged around one who was shown to be in "discernible pain or distress".

The court heard Collier had carried out searches for the images, including those featuring incest.

Collier, of North Hylton Road, Sunderland, told police he had intended to find "normal stuff" when he downloaded pornography and the illegal images, which he tried to delete, arrived alongside.

He claimed he had used the search terms to try and find out where the illegal images were coming from.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.

Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 80 hours unpaid work.

Collier must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

The judge told him: "It is apparent from the search terms you deliberately sought out such images, you were looking for not just images of children but those that had and incestuous element to them."

The judge said Collier has to acknowledge his "sexual interest" led him to look for such images and added: "You need to acknowledge that viewing indecent images of children perpetuates the harm caused to children all around the world, who are raped and abused for the sexual gratification of people like you who view images of the abuse."

Judge Clemitson told him: "You and others like you feed that trade."

The judge said the sentence could be suspended as Collier has caring responsibilities and a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

Nick Lane, defending, said Collier has been in no trouble before and feels "regret and shame".

Mr Lane said Collier's partner has significant health issues and as a result of his case being reported in the press his home was targeted which meant he had to leave.

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