A PADIHAM milkman who had a stash of internet child porn was caught after he was burgled and his computer was taken to the police, a court heard.

Pennine magistrates were told how father-of-three Andrew Howell, 48, had downloaded about 80 images of ‘young girls’, including two short video clips.

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Some pictures were said by the police to show girls who looked as young as ten-years-old.

The hearing was told none of the photos showed girls taking part in sexual activity.

The children were in a number of poses and the images included ‘nude teen beauty pageants’.

Howell, of South Drive, Padiham, admitted six allegations of making an indecent photograph of a child, on or between October 4 and November 30, last year at Padiham.

The self-employed defendant was given a thee year supervision order by the bench.

Chairman Stephen Riley told him: “We need to punish you and protect the public.”

Howell was told to attend the internet sex offenders’ programme and must obey a six-week curfew, between 6pm and 11.45pm, seven-days-a-week.

The defendant, who was ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register for five years, was told to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Dominic Howell, prosecuting, said Howell’s house was burgled and the computer was recovered by somebody and handed in to the police.

It was then that the images were discovered.

Some of the girls in the pictures looked as young as 10. When the defendant was questioned, he said he thought the people in the images were older.

Daniel Frazer, defending, said the defendant, who had experienced a relationship breakdown, had gone through personal turmoil since the offences.

Mr Frazer said: “He has caused a lot of upset and distress and he realises the only person to blame is himself.”

Mr Frazer told the court although custody would be justified the defendant wouldn’t get the help and support the probation service could offer.

He said: “Three years’ supervision is quite an onerous order, but he gets three years’ worth of intervention, which will not only assist him, but provide three years of protection for the public.”

Mr Frazer said Howell was willing to abide by any order of the court.

He added: “The defendant is aware of the stigma which comes with being attached to the register.”