A LONER who kept “horrifying”

images of child abuse on his computer has been jailed.

Some of the pictures found on Arron McCann’s computer were classed as level four and five, the most serious category of indecent images, and showed sexual activity with children of “a very young age”, the court heard.

McCann, aged 40, was caught when a raid on a property in Kent led police to the house he shares with his parents in St James Street, Farnworth.

The court heard that the search in Kent in March last year resulted in the seizure of computer equipment used for large scale distribution and possession of indecent images of children, which were traced back to McCann’s address.

A raid in June found three pairs of children’s knickers and computer equipment containing indecent images of children at his home.

McCann admitted offences in interviews and revealed where one of the stolen items of underwear had come from.

Bolton Crown Court heard that the offences involved distributing 236, making 536 and possessing 242 indecent images, plus videos, ranging from level one to five in seriousness.

The court was told he was a “very isolated man” who has had no real relationships and has very few friends. McCann pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing, six of making and 10 of possessing indecent images and videos at an earlier hearing.

He also admitted indecently assaulting a nine or 10-yearold girl, who cannot be identifIed for legal reasons, in 2001 or 2002. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison yesterday and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Judge Elliott Knopf said: “The images show sexual activity with children of such a tender age, which is extensive and horrifying. The exchange of them is exploitation of the children and fuels the demand for such images.”

Speaking about the victim of the indecent assaults, the judge added: “Those actions, which for you provided some sexual gratification or excitement, are for her a longstanding blot on her memory, with which she has to live.”

The judge said McCann must have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 until further notice, ordered the confiscation and destruction of the equipment seized and ordered two further charges to lie on file.