A MAN who downloaded indecent images of children has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Leigh Williams, of Hopkins Walk, Newport, was found to be in possession of 24 indecent images of children, five of which were in category A, the most serious .

Police searched the home of Williams on February 9 where they found a computer with a hard disk which contained indecent images of children, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.

Thomas Roberts, prosecuting, said a total of 476 images were found by police.

Twenty-four of these were classified as indecent, but police said the others were “indicative” of Williams’ offending, the court was told.

Several of the images showed children under the age of 10 involved in sexual acts.

When interviewed by police, 36-year-old Williams said he had been using the “dark web” to find images and admitted some showed children “in distress”.

He told police that the reason he downloaded the images was for his own "sexual gratification".

Stephen Thomas, defending, said Williams had pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images at the earliest opportunity.

He said Williams was “deeply ashamed” of what he had done.

“He has expressed remorse and continues to be sorry,” added Mr Thomas.

“This is a hard-working single man who is considered to be at low risk of offending.

“Immediate custody in this case is not inevitable.”

Of the 24 indecent images, five were in the most serious category A, 18 were in category B and one image was category C.

Mr Thomas said the number of indecent images downloaded was “relatively low” and said there was no suggestion he intended to distribute the images.

Recorder Peter Griffiths QC gave Williams credit for his guilty plea.

He added: “The other feature that plays an important part in my decision is that you have already been in custody (for this case) and your lack of offending in the past.”

Judge Griffiths sentenced Williams to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was added to the sex offenders’ register for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for five years.

He was also made to pay a victim surcharge of £115 and was ordered to complete a sexual offender rehabilitation programme.