A MAN who had scores of illegal child abuse images on his laptop has been spared an immediate prison sentence. 

Ian Chambers, 67, was caught out by police officers who raided his South Cumbria home and seized computer equipment. 

Almost 200 illegal images were found on a laptop, and 40 videos were recovered from an external hard drive. 

Some of the pictures in Chambers's possession were classed in category A - the most serious. A number of the children depicted were estimated to be as young as five. 

Chambers admitted 10 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child. 

The offences were committed between 2005 and 2014. He was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today. 

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said Chambers was interviewed by police after a search warrant was executed at his home. 

Chambers confessed he was a man who enjoyed looking at various forms of legal pornography. 

However, Mr Rogerson told the court: "He claimed his curiosity had gone too far. He claimed he did get sexual gratification from viewing pornography, but not from viewing illegal images of children." 

The court heard that not all of the illegal images had been recovered from Chambers's computer equipment by the time he was interviewed. 

"He said to police he had a sneaky feeling there would be indecent images on the hard drive," stated Mr Rogerson. That did prove to be the case. 

The court heard Chambers had bought the computer from new, and was the sole user of it. 

"He concluded the interview by saying he felt ashamed, that he had let himself and his wife down," added Mr Rogerson. 

Greg Hoare, defending, confirmed that fact as he gave mitigation on behalf of Chambers to Judge Barbara Forrester. 

A man of good character, Chambers had been fully co-operative during the police investigation, the court heard. A number of references had been provided in support of him. 

"Your Honour has before you today a man who is ashamed and embarrassed by being in court," said Mr Hoare. 

Judge Forrester gave Chambers an eight-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years. He will undergo 24 months' supervision and complete one-to-one group work. 

In addition, Chambers, of Jack Hill, Allithwaite, Grange-over-Sands, must sign the sex offender register and is subject to the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for the next 10 years.