A MAN downloaded indecent images of children in an attempt to exorcise demons from his past and not for his own sexual gratification, Skipton magistrates heard.

Lee Lawrence Wright, 48, went to a solicitor and admitted what he had done before handing himself over to police, the court heard yesterday.

Officers went to his home in Skipton where they seized computer equipment containing 60 images of the lowest level of severity - Class C - and one at the highest, Class A.

Images featured both boys and girls, between the ages of six to 13 years old, including children performing sexual acts.

Wright, a man of no previous convictions, made full and frank admissions to police and was co-operative from the start, the court was told.

Now of Walshaw Street in Burnley, he admitted nine charges of making indecent images of a child in Skipton, all on or before September 17 last year.

In mitigation, John Mewies, said Wright had not downloaded the images for his own sexual gratification but in an attempt to rid himself of demons in his past.

"This was a small number of images, not for his own sexual gratification, but in an attempt to address demons from his difficult past as an adolescent when he was steadfastly abused," he said.

Mr Mewies said Wright had volunteered information to the police, had made full and frank admissions and been co-operative throughout.

He added Wright's marriage has broken up as a result, and that he is now living in temporary accommodation in Burnley.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing to September 25 for a full all-options report, warning him it could include custody, or could still be sent to crown court where sentencing powers are greater.

He was allowed conditional bail in that he live at Walshaw Street in Burnley.