A NURSE was shocked to discover indecent photographs of children as she tried to identify the owner of a diabetic bag which had been left at hospital, a court heard.

Bradford Crown Court was told today that the nurse examined the pouch, containing diabetic blood testing equipment, which had been handed in at Bradford Royal Infirmary last July.

She found a number of passport photos of children in school uniform and four memory cards, prosecutor Jon Gregg told the court. He said she put one of the memory cards in a computer and was shocked to see the indecent photos. She alerted police.

Mr Gregg said that grandfather John Gibson went to the hospital the next day and said he had lost his diabetic pen. The nurse took his name and address and passed them on to police.

Gibson was questioned by police over a number of interviews and said he was a keen photographer who had paid professional models to pose for him.

He initially denied possessing child porn but went on to admit there were images of children. He maintained he was not sexually attracted to children, but was curious.

Mr Gregg said the defendant was in possession of 83 indecent photos. Seven were category A images showing penetrative sexual activity, six were category B non-penetrative sexual activity images, and 70 were category C other indecent images.

Gibson, 58, a lift engineer, of Halifax Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to 14 charges of possessing indecent photos.

The court heard he had no previous convictions.

Sentencing Gibson, Judge Peter Benson noted the defendant had never been in trouble before, there was a relatively small number of category A images and a probation report was optimistic that a lengthy period of supervision and an activity requirement would be of benefit to the community as well as Gibson.

Judge Benson said a community order was a proper alternative to custody.

He told Gibson: "You are 58 and hitherto of good character, a man who has been in work, with a number of children who are now adults, you are in a long term relationship and have the support of your family. You have pleaded guilty essentially at the first opportunity."

Judge Benson imposed a three-year community order, with supervision and a high level activity requirement of 60 days, requiring him to attend an internet sex offender programme to address the triggers of his offending.

The judge also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order preventing Gibson from having unsupervised contact with any child under 18; not to use or carry photographic equipment within 100 metres of a school; prohibiting his use of the internet; and not to seek employment which was likely to allow unsupervised access to children.

Gibson was ordered to register as a sexual offender for five years.