Child porn addict from Wigan borough caught with thousands of photographs and videos

Officers went Thomas Hillman’s home in November after receiving information about his internet activities from the National Crime Agency.

He had already left for work, but his laptop was seized and officers went to his workplace to arrest him.

They wanted to find his mobile phone, which was not at his home, but they could not locate it, said Peter Hussey, prosecuting.

They then checked CCTV and found he had a locker and had hidden the phone behind a nearby bin.

It was forensically examined and the majority of indecent images were found.

Mr Hussey said the website addresses which Hillman had been looking at included “teen porn”, “jail bait forum” and “bestiality forum”.

Hillman, 29, who has a young son, was evasive when interviewed, but admitted he had special software to wipe files from his laptop. However, he said he had not used it.

The defendant, of Rothay Street, Leigh, pleaded guilty to six offences involving downloading indecent images in all three categories of seriousness, possessing a prohibited image, possessing 152 extreme pornographic images and possessing a wrap of cocaine.

Mr Hussey said the images included girls as young as two being raped.

Simeon Evans, defending, said Hillman had no previous convictions.

He has been seeking help with various organisations since the offences and was candid when speaking to the probation service.

Recorder Tim Harrington imposed a two-year community order and ordered him to carry out 35 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours unpaid work.

“This is your one chance,” he told him.

The judge ordered him to pay £250 towards prosecution costs and to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. He made a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

He said: “Over a number of years your personal life started to spiral downwards. You were drinking too much and in my opinion became addicted to looking at disgraceful and disgusting child porn and also images of sexual activity with animals.”

He said Hillman could not complain if he jailed him, but he had been “refreshingly open with probation officers” and was trying to sort his life out.