A GWENT man has been found guilty of downloading thousands of indecent images including some of dogs and children.

Jonathan Weekes, aged 48, of Citadel Close in Tredegar, was found guilty of 20 counts of downloading and possessing indecent images between 2003 and 2012, by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court today.

Police found 5,713 indecent images, 209 videos and 249 prohibited computer generated or cartoon images when they searched his home and confiscated his computer and CDs.

Some of those images were classed as the most serious level, including bestiality.

Prosecutor James Wilson said the images were so troubling that the jury were not asked to look at them, and instead heard descriptions of their content.

Majority verdicts were reached on counts one to 17, while guilty verdicts were unanimously reached by the jury on the remaining three counts.

Weekes denied all the charges and claimed other people with access to his computer must have downloaded the pictures.

During the trial, the jury was told how Weekes’ desktop computer was freely available in his living room for people staying at his home.

The court also heard how he was caught out when another man accidentally saw the material and alerted police.

Internet search terms on Weekes’ computer included "pre-teen hardcore", and "Lolita".

Images looked at had names including "daddy's little porn girl" and "real incest".

"The expert found thousands of images," prosecutor Mr Wilson said. "To search for and download such images would take time.

"All the material was found at the defendant's home address. The material wasn't just on the computer, it was also on CDs and memory cards. It was downloaded some time ago but retained at the property."

Weekes was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month (March), after Judge Philip Richards ordered a pre-sentence report.