POLICE raided a man's Lake District home and found hundreds of child abuse images in his possession, a court heard. 

Leigh Foster, 39, had amassed a sick library of illegal still and moving pictures - some featuring youngsters aged just six. 

Almost 600 of the images recovered were classed in category A - the most serious. When arrested, Foster made full and frank admissions of his crimes. 

He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of making indecent photographs of children and three charges of possessing extreme pornographic images. His offences were committed between 2008 and 2014. 

The court was told Foster had made specific searches for the images of children that were found in his possession. Police had executed a search warrant at Foster's house, seizing a computer tower and mobile phone. They had been acting on information received from Cumbria Constabulary's exploitation and online protection unit. 

There were a total of 440 category A still images, 24 category B and 17 category C. In addition, there were 149 category A videos, along with 33 in B and scores in C. Michael Maher, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was interviewed under caution and admitted he used such (search) terms as 'pre-teens'. 

"When looking he searched for images of young girls between the ages of nine and 13." However, the youngest was aged just six, the court heard. Foster stated he had not searched for - nor was he aware of - the extreme pornographic images found. 

Foster, of Gallowbarrow, Hawkshead, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

He told Judge Barbara Forrester: "I feel ashamed and disgusted at myself. I cannot believe I have ended up like this.

"It is terrible; I am very remorseful indeed." 

Foster was given a three-year community order with a supervision requirement, and must attend a sex offender course. He must abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order, and was made subject to notification requirements. In addition, his case will be reported to the safeguarding authorities, which will consider whether he should be banned from working with children and vulnerable adults.