A MAN from Withywood caught with indecent images of children when he took his computer for repair has been ordered to join a sex offenders' programme.
In a scenario similar to the exposure of glam rocker Gary Glitter, Rowland Long asked for his computer to be wiped and a technician found images of youngsters.
Long said nothing to police, but admitted to a probation officer he had a sexual interest in young children, Bristol Crown Court heard.
The 58-year-old, of Cobhorn Drive, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of downloading indecent images of children from the internet.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Neil Ford QC told him: "You have expressed remorse to a probation officer. You and society are better assisted by a community order for three years, and the Internet Thames Valley Sex Offending Programme."
Long was told to register as a sex offender for five years, disqualified from working with children indefinitely, told to pay £250 court costs and also had to forfeit his computer.
Richard Posner, prosecuting, said in August last year Long took his computer to an IT repair technician in Brislington because of virus issues.
Some three days later, Long returned and stated he was having problems with internet connection.
Mr Posner told the court: "The technician replicated what the defendant was doing and what he discovered was not expected. He saw three websites and images of young children. He was used to seeing files of adult porn but the ages of children was concerning."
Initially the technician thought the images were downloaded accidentally, but more checks produced more concerning pictures and search terms specifically seeking out minors.
Police were called and seized the computer and arrested Long, who made no comment when interviewed.
A total of 291 indecent pictures were recovered, of which 272 were at the lowest category one erotic posing level and nine were at the second highest category four, involving full abuse.
Mr Posner said in January this year Long was due to answer police bail but failed to attend. It transpired that, on October last year, he flew to Bangkok and was arrested on his return to Bristol in June.
Nicholas Arthur, defending, said his client was married to a 47-year-old Thai woman and he went to Thailand following the death of his wife's mother. He was arrested at Bristol Airport having notified UK authorities of his return.
Mr Arthur said only three per cent of Long's recovered images were of the second highest concern category.
He said: "There were search terms for posing but nothing that would directly access more extreme material."
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