A man was warned he faced jail after about 100 indecent images of children as young as six were found on his computer.

John Sunderland admitted 19 charges of possessing indecent photographs of children when he appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday. One similar charge was withdrawn.

He was caught as part of the international police investigation Operation Ore headed by the FBI, which has targeted Internet child pornography in America and the UK.

Dressed in a grey suit and white shirt, well-spoken Sunderland, 40, of Airedale Crescent, Undercliffe, Bradford, spoke to confirm his name, give his address and date of birth and his guilty plea.

Prosecutor Stephen Gration told the court that the 19 charges related to about 100 images taken from the computer at Mr Sunderland's house. Images are graded from one to five - level five being the most serious.

Mr Gration said that the photographs were on a mix of levels. The court heard how 12 of the photographs were graded level one, five were level three and two were level four. They featured young girls aged between six and 14 years in a variety of indecent photographs.

Sunderland's solicitor Monira Hussain asked the magistrates to adjourn the case for preparation of a pre-sentence report.

After retiring to examine the photographs with the other magistrates, chairman of the magistrates bench, Clifford Bromley, warned Sunderland that he could be jailed.

"The court has decided to adjourn this case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared," he said.

"A custodial sentence may be appropriate."

Sunderland's case was adjourned until May 7. He was released on unconditional bail and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register within three days.