A 39-YEAR-OLD Lower Slaughter man caught with indecent images of children as well as extreme pornography involving animals was handed a suspended jail term on Thursday (May 6) and ordered to do unpaid work for the community.

Donald Godfrey of Fosse Way, Lower Slaughter, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to possessing 43 Category A images and videos of children, the most serious category, 19 images of Category B and 8 of Category C.

He also admitted having 19 extreme pornography images.

Prosecutor Ehsanul Oarith told the court that on March 18 last year, police received information that someone at Godfrey's address was uploading indecent images on Kik.

Two devices were seized from him - an iPhone and an iPad which were linked to a Dropbox account from which the illegal images were recovered.

Mr Oarith said the images and videos involved children aged between 6 and 16. As well as still images there was a total of 39mins of film, he added.

The defence said Godfrey was a man of previous good character apart from a drink-drive offence.

His illegal activity had lasted for about three months, a comparatively short period, and his arrest had led to him 'seeking help from various quarters,' his lawyer said.

The judge, Recorder James Waddington QC, told Godfrey: "I give you full credit for owning up at the second police interview and pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.

"I can also afford you a little bit more credit, although not a great deal, for your good character apart from your excess alcohol conviction."

The judge sentenced Godfrey to seven months jail suspended for two years and ordered him to do 150 hours of unpaid work. He also ordered him to attend up to thirty rehabilitation activity days and to pay £425 costs.

A five year sexual harm prevention order was imposed on Godfrey.