Neil Hunter / / News
A FIREMAN on trial for downloading indecent images of children is blaming his ex-lover for using his computer account to look at the photos.
James Tompkins, 35, denies being responsible for the vile pictures found on a MacBook he shared with his former boyfriend.
However, the prosecution say searches for illegal material were made from their home in Northallerton while his 23-year-old boyfriend was 30 miles away in York where he worked as a salesman.
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But Mr Tompkins's legal team say he was on a training day out of the area when some of the internet activity took place, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Tompkins's former boyfriend, who now lives in Darlington, was forced to deny a series of allegations about his sexual preferences put by defence lawyer David Comb.
He admitted having a host of pornographic interests - including beastiality and extreme restraints - but denied liking children.
Prosecutor Louise Reevell said at the times of some of the searches, the user was also looking at Mr Tompkins's National Lottery and Tesco accounts.
Terms such as "weird gay porn" and "kid gay sex" were put into Google, said Miss Reevell, as well as a website promoting sex between men in public places.
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The former boyfriend said, under cross-examination, that he did not know the password for Mr Tompkins Lotto account and had never used the online supermarket.
Computer expert Ian Meek told the jury the majority of the images were found in a deleted area, but three had a specific date in July 2013.
Mr Tompkins, of Crosby Road, Northallerton, denies eight charges of making indecent images of children and faces a trial due to last three days.
His former partner sighed and seemed exasperated at some of the questioning he faced in the witness box, when quizzed about his sexual tendencies.
He said he had accidentally clicked a link to a site showing a 12-year-old having sex with a woman, and said: "I'm not interested in that sort of thing."
Mr Comb said: "I'm suggesting you have a particular interest in images of male children and that's the reason you clicked on a story about a 12-year-old."
He replied: "Not at all, no."
The court heard that he was arrested and questioned at the same time as Mr Tompkins just before Christmas in 2013, but was released without charge.
Mr Comb put it to Mr Tompkins's ex-boyfriend: "He had never indicated to you that he had any sexual interest in children." The witness replied: "No."
The case continues.
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