Blackburn pensioner downloaded more than 100 images featuring bestiality and tried to blame his family

With members of Michael Roger Bagnall’s family, including his grandson, waiting to give evidence against him the 69-year-old admitted his crime on the day of trial at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Stuart Baker described Bagnall’s behaviour as 'revolting and unpleasant' and said it helped contribute to animals being abused.

Prosecutor Richard Howarth told the court how police had searched Bagnall’s home in Cunliffe Close, Blackburn, in October 2013 and found extreme pornographic images involving adults with dogs or horses.

The court heard between 2009 and 2012 Bagnall had visited a number of bestiality websites and images had been stored on his computer. But Mr Haworth said Bagnall had never accessed the images again and even took steps to delete them.

Mr Haworth said when police went to Bagnall’s house to seize a laptop and computer tower he blamed his son, daughter-in-law and grandson for downloading the offensive material.

Bagnall eventually accepted full responsibility by pleading guilty to a single charge of possessing extreme pornographic images. The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence to charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Judge Baker said: “This was human beings being driven to engage in an activity, which every right-thinking man, woman or child will regard as revolting."

“The other unpleasantness is you have denied your guilt until the day of trial. It caused the police to have to take statements from members of your family, including your grandson. It led to him having to come to court to deny the version of events your were implying.”

Citing that Bagnall had no previous convictions, his poor health and the fact he cares for his wife, Judge Baker sentenced him to 32 weeks in prison suspended for two years. He also made Bagnall subject of a two-year prohibited activity requirement and told him to pay costs of £1,200. A forfeiture and destruction order was made.