A FATHER who downloaded indecent images of children told police he had no idea how they got onto his computer.

Gary Smiley, 41, could not explain the illegal photographs, but pleaded guilty on Monday as he was due to go on trial.

He was given a 21-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, after he admitted making indecent photos of children.

Judge Howard Crowson, at Teesside Crown Court, said Smiley had waited more than two years for his case to reach court.

Aisha Wadoodi, mitigating, said the father-of-three was effectively of good character with no problems in his past.

She said the stress of the delays in the case had taken its toll on him, but Smiley was still in work earning £500 a week.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield told the court that an examination of Smiley's laptop showed 55 images - including four films.

Smiley, of Runnymede, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, was ordered to pay £500 costs, and was put on the sex offenders's register for seven years.