Offender had child porn

Judge John Burgess made the comment at Derby Crown Court this month after over 33,000 images - including movies - were found when police raided the home of Thomas Perkins, 58, of Wilson Street, Dronfield.

A three-year probation order was imposed on Perkins, who must attend a sex offenders’ programme and must make his computer available for police checks.

Judge John Burgess told him: “You have pleaded guilty to downloading pictures and movies most right-thinking people think are absolutely disgusting. They are also incredibly damaging to you and far worse to all the children who have been abused in the making of those movies and pictures. Just imagine if your little sister, or someone like that, was being abused for the gratification of people. You would want them punished.”

Perkins admitted five counts of downloading indecent images of children between April 2004 and February 2013.

The judge said Perkins could have been sent to prison but the treatment was more constructive.

Mrs Annette Thomas, mitigating, said Perkins has never been in trouble before and co-operated with police.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said police raided the home on February 19 last year and discovered the images. Some involved children aged between six and eight.

Miss Allen said “He said he searched for teens, over 16s, looking for adult pornography and if he received younger age material he immediately deleted it. He said he received sexual gratification from looking at 16 to 17-year-old girls but not younger children.”