THE RETIRED MINER WHO DOWNLOADED SICK IMAGES OF MINORS ON TO HIS PHONE

He was instead given a 12-month community order which will see him have to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also told he must sign the sex offenders register for five years. Additionally a sexual harm prevention order was placed upon him which will limit his access to the internet.

The retired miner kept his shameful secret from his family and downloaded the images after looking at disturbing images became a compulsion for him. He said he sought photos on social media out of curiosity.

He was caught after information was handed to the police by the national crime agency, after obtaining a warrant to search his property they visited his home on the 8th of December 2017 and removed two laptops and two mobile phones for further analysis, however, during his police interview he admitted that the images were on his phones.

In total he was found to have saved 85 indecent images of children onto two mobile phones - 13 of which were classed as class A which is of the worst severity.

Crabtree's lawyer said her client was 'deeply ashamed' of what he had done.

He has since made full admissions to his family and has started to attend rehabilitation.

When passing sentence, Court Recorder Geoffrey Lowe, said:

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"It's astonishing to see a man of your background in this situation.

"These are not victimless offences. The children whose photos are taken are abused.

"Some of these images reflect the most serious sexual abuse of these children.

"You regarded this as something that started out as a curiosity then became a compulsion.

"You have shown remorse and sought to seek assistance. This is a blemish on an otherwise exemplary record.

"If these matters are addressed there is no reason why you cannot go back to being the hard-working and respectful man you was."