A BRIERLEY Hill grandfather caught with thousands of sickening indecent photographs of children - some aged as young as one or two - has avoided a spell behind bars.

Recorder David Mason QC told Adrian Hall it was in the interests of the public for him to receive treatment for his “problem” rather than spend a short time in custody.

“You understand I hope just how disgusting this behaviour was,” he told the 53 year old.

“You know the material you were viewing and sharing could only come from situations where very young children were being abused.”

The recorder added: “There is every indication from what I have read that there seems to be genuine hope that this disgraceful behaviour can be treated.”

Hall admitted eight charges of making indecent images of children, four of distributing the images and another of possessing extreme pornography involving bestiality.

Alexander Barnfield prosecuting said Hall’s activities came to the notice of police through messages on his twitter account and inquiries lead officers to his home.

They seized his mobile and two computers, discovering over three thousand indecent images of children including a number in the worst possible category, together with pornographic movies involving children.

Samantha Powis defending Hall, who lived in the Leys Road area before moving to Blackpool after his arrest, said his offending began out of curiosity.

Miss Powis said: “He accepts there was a sexual interest and he knows what he did was wrong.

“His shame is obvious. There is genuine remorse and a genuine acceptance that he has a problem.”

Mr Mason made Hall the subject of a three year community order coupled with three years supervision and a condition he attends the Sexual Offenders Treatment Programme.

He further made an unlimited sexual harm protection order against Hall and told him he must register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

“I have been watching you in the dock and I can see the effects your disgusting behaviour has had on you,” he told Hall. “I am certain that what the public will prefer is that you do not commit these sort of offences again.”