A PAEDOPLHILE who is banned from accessing private computers has been caught downloading indecent images of young girls on his father’s computer, Bolton Magistrates Court heard.

Stephen Ramsey appeared at Crown Court in 2008 and was convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

The 59-year-old was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order which prohibited him from accessing the internet on computers which were not at a public library or the Quest Centre.

But in July last year police seized a computer from the home of Ramsey’s father’s and found Ramsey had downloaded a total of 140 level one indecent images of children, all of which were girls aged under 13.

“He had used his father’s computer, patently putting his father at risk of prosecution,” said Howard Sloane, prosecuting. He added that Ramsey had admitted accessing the images almost immediately after his 2008 conviction and Ramsey’s father was not aware his son was banned from using the internet on private computers. Ramsey, of Cotswold Drive, Horwich, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children and breaching the sexual offences prevention order. Peter Leather, defending, said Ramsey had co-operated fully with police.

Magistrates decided their sentencing powers were not great enough and so the case was sent to Bolton Crown Court where Ramsey will next appear on February 26.