A MAN facing trial after 78,000 indecent images of children were found on his computer has been found dead.

David Strother, 39, from Hartlepool was arrested as part of the international Operation Ore investigation. It is believed he had the largest volume of images ever found in the country.

He had made two appearances before Hartlepool magistrates accused of 18 counts of making indecent images of children and one of distributing child pornography.

Last month, Strother, who had not entered a plea to the charges, failed to turn up for another court hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Since then, he had been on the run from Cleveland Police. Last Thursday, his body was found in a car in a lay-by beside the A9 near the Killiecrankie turn-off, close to Pitlochry, Scotland.

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said: "There were no suspicious circumstances and we are not looking for any other person."

It is believed Strother, a factory worker, lived alone in his Elderslie Walk home, just yards from a primary school.

Neighbours described last night how he kept himself to himself, but always looked scruffy and unkempt.

One woman, who lives in the same block of flats, said: "He never really seemed to have the time of day for us, and we often thought he was a loner.

"He always looked untidy and we never saw anyone visiting him. From what I really know of him, he didn't seem to have a personality.

"The first we knew of what he had been up to was when we read about it in the paper. It came as a bit of a shock because you never think it could happen so close to you."

It is alleged the offences took place between 1995 and February this year.

Cleveland Police said yesterday they were still awaiting confirmation that it was Strother's body, but they did not believe there had been any history of harassment towards him.

A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal, in Perth, who will examine the circumstances surrounding the death.