A SELF-EMPLOYED IT expert who accessed indecent photos of children over an eight year period felt lonely and isolated while hiding his "very nasty secret," Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Jeremy Jackson, 46, of Park Road, Bingley, was highly thought of and produced many references before he was sentenced to a three year community order that means he must attend the Sex Offender Treatment Programme and work with the probation service.

Jackson pleaded guilty to three offences that together involved making about 350 indecent photos and movies of children in all three categories of seriousness, between December 2007 and July last year.

Prosecutor Frances Pencheon said Jackson's home was raided by the police on September 15, 2015, during an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Illegal photos found on his computers included images of children aged between three and 11, some in pain and distress.

Jackson, who told the police he was "inquisitive" had made searches that included the words "paedo" and "pre teens," Miss Pencheon said.

His barrister, Kitty Taylor, said he had voluntarily sought help and counselling even before he admitted the offences.

He could very easily have accessed many more images while doing his job and he never shared any of the files.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Jackson: "You were a man of impeccable character, very highly thought of, but you were hiding a very nasty secret or habit."

Jackson must sign on the sex offenders' register for five years and the judge made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.