An IT training manager who viewed “disgusting” images of child pornography on his laptop computer and mobile phone has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.

Michael Judge, 33, of West Road, Carleton, near Skipton, was ordered to attend probation service supervision and a sex offender treatment programme by Judge John Potter at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to 16 charges of making an indecent photo of a child between April 2008 and April last year. The judge made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order without limit of time and Judge must register with the police as a sex offender for seven years.

The court heard that police seized his computer and phone on April 24 last year as part of an investigation into child pornography offences.

Expert officers recovered 38 deleted images on the phone and two images wiped from the computer.

Judge Potter said nine of the illegal images were at level four, the second highest bracket of seriousness.

He said that, as Judge was highly skilled in IT work, he may have concealed other images.

Judge Potter said Judge, of previous good character, had contributed to the abuse of the child victims by viewing the “disgusting images” on the internet. But he had made full admissions to the police and was a highly-qualified member of society.