A SOLDIER who sent indecent images of children to his former partner and possessed a video of a man performing a sex act with a live fish will have to register as a sex offender for the next five years.

Ben Mitchell, 35, of Park Drive Road, Keighley, had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of making an indecent photograph of a child, one charge of distributing an indecent photograph, and one charge of possessing an extreme pornographic image which was grossly offensive.

The offences took place at locations including Keighley between September 22 and December 14, 2013.

Prosecutor Nadine Clough told Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court Mitchell had sent images to a former partner who he had been in a two-year relationship with until May 2012.

Following their split, they continued to exchange texts, many of which were of a "sexual nature."

Miss Clough told the court Mitchell had taken screenshots on his phone from images downloaded on his laptop from porn websites and sent them to the woman.

The pictures were seen by Linda Brown, a social worker supporting the girlfriend, who reported them to the police.

When Mitchell's phone was sent for forensic examination, police found eight images of varying categories of indecency.

The most serious involved a video of a man performing a sex act with a live fish, although this was not sent on.

Other images, which Mitchell did send to his former partner, included a girl aged between 12 and 16, a picture of four girls aged between seven and 14, an image of two girls aged between 13 and 16, and a sexual image of a boy aged between 11 and 15.

Mitchell told police the video had been sent to him and fellow soldiers on his army base in Catterick "as a joke", and he deleted it.

He admitted the indecent images had featured "young" teens, but not children, and said they all came from "legitimate" porn sites which he thought would filter out children from searches.

Miss Clough said Mitchell's laptop had not been recovered by police as he said it had broken prior to his arrest in April 2014 and he had dumped it.

In mitigation, Lisa Julian said the exchanges between Mitchell and his former girlfriend had "not been a one-way conversation", adding that police seized the evidence in 2014 but had not charged him until July 2015.

Sentencing Mitchell, chairman of the bench Margaret Carter said: "You need to understand the far-reaching consequences downloading indecent images has beyond your own life.

"This exploits vulnerable young people.

"You are a young man who has served your country in the military and you will be facing sanctions at work.

"A high-level community order will address your thinking skills and decision-making.

"You have been punished for what are essentially disgraceful offences. Do not think you have got off lightly."

Mitchell had a five-year sexual offences prevention order imposed on him, and was also given a three-year community order with 60 days high-level activity and 150 hours unpaid work.

He will pay £85 costs and a £60 surcharge.