A MAN who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children has avoided an immediate jail term.

Joshua Watkins, of Stamford Court, Newport, has been given an eight-month suspended sentence after previously pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images.

Watkins, 22, was found in possession of 284 indecent videos and 269 indecent images of children when police searched his home on the morning of March 6 this year, Newport Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Of the videos, 143 were in category A, the most serious level of offending, while 126 of the images were also category A.

Officers seized two hard drives from the home in Stamford Court.

Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, said Watkins mass downloaded images from websites on the dark web.

“When he was interviewed by the police he admitted to having an interest in young teens, mainly 13 to 16-year-old girls having sex,” said Mr Gobir.

“He said he had been searching the web for images for two to three years and that recently it had got out of hand.”

When police showed one of the category A videos to Watkins, he responded by saying: “It’s horrible.”

In police interviews, Watkins said some of the images made him feel sick and that he deleted them straight away, the court heard.

He became visibly upset when shown some of the images by police, the court heard.

Clare Wilks, defending, said many of the images were not accessible as they had been deleted.

“Most of the images were no longer accessible without software.

“It was not the type of case where the defendant had the images to keep looking at them.”

She said Watkins had a lack of support at home and that he suffers from a lack of confidence and self-esteem.

“He had a confidence online that he did not have in everyday life,” Ms Watkins added.

Since his arrest, Watkins has been offered support from his auntie and is keen to get back on the right track, Ms Watkins said.

Recorder Peter Rouch QC said there was a “sadistic element” to some of the indecent videos and that some of the children shown were as young as six.

He said: “The children in these videos were hurt and damaged because of what was happening to them.

“Each time a video or still image is looked at the abuse that is being carried out on these children is being perpetuated.”

He gave Watkins credit for his early guilty plea and said there was no suggestion he had attempted to distribute the images.

Credit was also given to Watkins for the admissions he made to police.

Watkins’ sentence of eight months was suspended for two years.

He was also added to the sex offenders’ register for five years and ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme.

A victim surcharge of £140 was made. An order was made to destroy the hard drives.