A PAEDOPHILE who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Aleksandras Macijauskas, aged 29, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges of possessing prohibited and indecent images of children.

The factory worker, who moved to the UK from Lithuania five years ago, and lived in Tyn-Y-Cwm, Risca, was arrested after police acted on intelligence that someone at his property had been downloading prohibited images, seizing a laptop, multiple hard drives and a mobile phone, in February.

Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, told the court police seized hundreds of images, finding 200 ‘Category A’ images on a single hard drive, and another 112 classed as ‘prohibited’.

Images also included cartoon pornography depicting minors.

The prosecution noted that Macijauskas had no previous sex offence convictions, either in Lithuania or the UK.

Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, defending, said Macijauskas was only interested in online pornography, and that rehabilitation should be considered to reduce any future risk to children.

“The unusual thing in this case is that he accepts a sexual interest in that he has a problem and that shows a willingness to work with probation services and to change,” she said.

Summing up, Judge Tom Crowther QC, said: “The offences are treated as serious because the children who you saw committing sexual acts have been damaged forever by what happened to them.

“It is because of the effect on the child and exploitation of children that the law takes a serious view of this offence.

“You admitted that you have a problem and it seems to me that it’s in the public interest that you have treatment for that problem before you commit an even more serious offence.”

He added: “What I’m going to do is to sentence you in such a way that I believe punishes you but allows you to have some treatment for what I consider to be a serious problem that you have.

“I give you full credit for your plea of guilty and I also treat you as a man of good character [...] you have come to this country and have been a hard worker.

“Had you been found guilty following a trial the appropriate sentence would have been two years but I reduce that sentence by a third to give you credit.”

Macijauskas was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours un-paid community work. He will be enrolled on the sex offenders’ group programme.

A £115 victim surcharge was also added. Macijauskas will be listed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.