A MAN who took part in 'nauseating' sexual fantasies about raping a child, in online chat rooms has been jailed.

Ronald Lunn, 68, of Pen-y-Worlod Road, Penhow, was found in possession of more than 100 indecent images of children after police searched his home on October 16 this year.

The court heard Lunn had shared and received indecent images using false identities in online chatrooms over a period of around four years.

Of 119 indecent images found on Lunn's laptop, six were deemed category A, the most serious, 10 category B and 103 category C.

Lunn, who previously pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images, three of distributing indecent images, one of possessing a prohibited image of a child and one of possessing an image of extreme pornography, was jailed for 20 months at Cardiff Crown Court today.

Gareth James, prosecuting, said Lunn was at home with his wife when police executed a search warrant at his home.

After directing officers towards his laptop, Lunn told officers "I am disgusted by it but I just could not help it," said Mr James.

When police examined the laptop, they also found Lunn had been using false identities on chat rooms to share indecent images and sexually fantasise about children.

Conversations in the chat rooms dated back to July, 2013, the court heard.

They included Lunn making up stories of himself engaging in sexual activity with children which were not true.

Lunn took part in the 'disgusting habit' at night when his wife was in bed, the court heard.

In police interviews, Lunn said he suffers with diabetes and sexual dysfunction.

He told officers he came across indecent images of children on the internet by accident at first and closed the site down.

However he returned to looking at the images to see if it would sexually arouse him, the court heard, and described it as "like a drug."

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC said the number of images found on Lunn's computer was likely only "a fraction" of the total downloaded over the last four years.

Gareth Williams, defending, said Lunn, of no previous convictions, had expressed disgust and remorse at his actions.

"He was a hard-working, family man who had never been in trouble, then at the age of 68 he had a knock on the door and his life will never be the same again.

"All of this, it is accepted, is his own fault."

He said the number of images distributed was relatively low.

Judge Hopkins said Lunn became immersed in a world of sexual fantasy to a "deep and worrying level."

He sentenced Lunn to a total of 20 months in prison. Lunn was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. A sexual harm prevention order was also made.