A GARAGE worker who went on the run after police seized child porn from his home has been sentenced to a three year community order at Bradford Crown Court.

Michael Watson, 41, went missing for two weeks on September 7 after he left his work at a Mercedes-Benz garage.

Police appealed for help to trace Watson, formerly of The Avenue, Overdale Park, Skipton, who attempted suicide and was sleeping rough while at large, the court was told yesterday.

During the search for Watson, his car, a black Mercedes C-Class, was found in Barnoldswick.

He was discovered safe and well on September 23.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said Watson had pleaded guilty to 11 offences of making indecent images of children and one charge of distributing them.

Police raided his address in Skipton on February 15 and seized electronic devices and printed pornography of young boys.

Watson confessed to investigating officers that he viewed child porn daily and had been sharing images but had stopped.

He told officers he distributed only pictures that had been shared to him first.

Three phones and his home computer were examined and hundreds of indecent photos of boys aged as young as eight were discovered.

Mr Ritchie said "a significant number" were in the highest category of seriousness.

Most of the pictures involved youngsters aged 13 to 17 and legal images of young adult males were also among the collection.

Watson's barrister, Julian Goode, mitigating, said he was now homeless and jobless and hoping to get social housing.

He had attempted suicide while on the run after failing to answer to his bail.

Watson was a hard working man of previous good character and was looking for employment, said Mr Goode.

Judge Peter Benson said the stills and videos of boys hoarded by Watson contributed to the exploitation of children by creating a market.

The judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and ordered Watson to sign on the sex offenders' register for the same period of time.

He ruled that he must not live in the same house as any child under 16 and his use of computers will be closely monitored in the future.

Watson was sentenced to a three year community order with a 60 day activity requirement with the probation service.