AN ex-telecoms worker from Accrington who claimed he downloaded child porn after succumbing to loneliness and depression has been ordered to attend an internet sex offenders programme.

Police found more than 1,250 indecent images on computer equipment when they raided Hadrian Livesey's home in Malham Avenue, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Livesey had lost his job as a sub-contractor for BT but now had the support of a long-term girlfriend, who was supporting him through the court process, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images and one charge each of possessing extreme pornographic material and possessing prohibited images.

Livesey was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with two years probation supervision. He must sign the sex offenders' register for seven years and pay £535 court costs.

Judge Jonathan Gibson also imposed a sexual harm prevention order, restricting the defendant's use of home computers and his interactions with any females aged under 16.

Prosecutor Lisa Worsley said that Livesey's computer hardware was analysed by police experts after the raid on his home in April 2015.

Thirty-two child images were found at the most serious level of indecency, another 46 at the second-most serious rating and a further 1,181 pictures portraying youngsters in sexual poses. Another 222 extreme pornographic images and two prohibited representations were also retrieved.

He originally refused to comment when asked by officers whether any indecent material was likely to be found on his computer equipment and maintained that stance when interviewed on three separate occasions during 2015.

Darren Lee-Smith, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had suffered problems with loneliness and depression and accepted that he required assistance to conquer his problems.

He had worked for BT as a sub-contractor but lost that position when the offences came to light, the court heard, though he had an offer of a position at Express Gifts in Hyndburn, where his partner worked.

Mr Lee-Smith said that the defendant had not tried to minimise his offending behaviour, with the author of the pre-sentence report, despite his attempts to explain his behaviour.