A MAN who was found in possession of more than 500 indecent images of children has been placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

Paul Marley, 34, of West End Villas, Coundon, Bishop Auckland, was arrested as a result of Operation Ore, where the credit card details of a number of British men accessing pay-per view child porn Internet sites were passed on by US authorities.

Marley pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to three offences of making indecent photos of a child and 13 of possessing indecent photos of a child.

Prosecuting, Shaun Dodds said that as a result of information passed to local police Marley's home was searched on October 12, 2002.

A number of items of computer hardware were taken away and 459 indecent images of children were recovered along with a further 46 indecent images which were also found on three floppy disks.

Mr Dodds said that Marley, who appeared at court in a wheelchair, was interviewed and admitted accessing adult porn on the Internet, but at first denied using child porn.

However an analysis of his Internet history conducted by police showed that between March and October 2002 he had accessed various child porn sites.

No mitigation in court was offered on Marley's behalf.

Judge George Moorhouse said that having read pre-sentence reports on Marley it was quite clear that he needed help and assistance.

He gave Marley a two-year community rehabilitation order and ordered him to register as a sex offender for five years.

The indecent images found in Marley's home should be destroyed, added the judge.