A CALDICOT man and rugby coach avoided a jail term after he admitted possessing indecent images of children.

Justin Lewis, 44, of Deepweir in Caldicot, had admitted four counts of possessing indecent images of children and another of possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying a sexual act with an animal which had been downloaded from the internet.

The Argus understands he had coached youngsters at Caldicot Rugby Club. The club declined to comment.

Lewis will be required to undertake a community order lasting three years and complete a rehabilitation order.

He will also need to carry out 300 hours of community work and will be included on the sexual offenders register for five years.

At Newport Crown Court on Friday, Recorder Richard Booth QC also barred Lewis from living with any child under the age of 16 without the approval of social services or a parent.

And he must not have any unsupervised contact with children without their parents’ or social services’ consent.

Lewis must also not delete any files that record browsing history or use any aliases while using a computer or the internet. He must also not use any software which could prevent access history being retained.

He had earlier admitted all of the charges at Newport Magistrates’ Court on October 13.

The offences did not involve youngsters from the rugby club.

A Welsh Rugby Union spokeswoman said: “We have been working with Gwent Police and Children’s Services on this case. Welsh Rugby Union safeguarding procedures‎ have been followed and the individual in question has been suspended from all club activity for the duration of the case.”