A FAMILY doctor who was found with sado-masochistic images of boys as young as six on his computer has been jailed for 15 months and banned from working with children.

Dr Riccardo Benci, a GP with Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT), in County Durham, has also been suspended by the General Medical Council after footage was discovered by shop staff when he had his computer repaired.

Judge Guy Whitburn, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, branded the images of pre-teen gay hardcore porn as disgusting.

He said fear and shock was evident on the faces of the abused children in the pictures.

Last night, it was also revealed that Benci has been subject to a disciplinary hearing in May 2004 by Sedgefield PCT after adult pornography was discovered on his computer at the Jubilee Medical Group practice, in Newton Aycliffe, where he worked.

It is the practice where Dr Howard Martin, who was last month cleared of murdering three of his patients, had been a partner.

The court heard that Benci, of Staindrop Crescent, Darlington, had been a doctor in Italy for 14 years before coming to England and joining Sedgefield PCT in August 2003.

He worked at a number of practices in the area before being employed as a doctor at the Newton Aycliffe practice.

In March the following year, it was discovered the 43-year-old had been accessing adult porn on his work computer. He was allowed to continue in his job after being given an official warning.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said that in April last year the doctor took his computer to a Darlington shop to be repaired. Staff called police after discovering hundreds of indecent film clips of children and Benci was suspended from work.

A total of 11 hours worth of footage was found by officers at Durham Police's computer crime unit, including one image of a child who had injuries to his genitals.

Mr Dodds said: "The video footage involved children aged between six and 15 in acts involving sexual penetration and sado-masochism.

"He said he found the images disgusting, but his hormones took over and he got sexual gratification from them."

Mr Dodds said that when the doctor was questioned a second time by police, he claimed he had downloaded the images because he was researching the relationship between the Internet and incest and pornography.

Dan Cordey, defending Benci, said the GP's life was in ruins and he would never be able to practise in England again.

He said he had suffered from bouts of depression and had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital when the offences were discovered.

Mr Cordey said: "It is likely his career as a doctor is over."

Judge Whitburn said there was no evidence Benci, who admitted 19 counts of making indecent images of children, was a paedophile.

He ordered the doctor should be put on the sex offenders' register for ten years.

After the case, Nigel Porter, chief executive of Sedgefield PCT said: "In light of his arrest by Durham Police, the PCT suspended Dr Benci from the medical performers list without prejudice.

"This prevents him from providing NHS primary care medical services.

"He is also suspended by the General Medical Council, who will now take appropriate steps to review Dr Benci's fitness to practise."

He added: "The PCT will then review his continued inclusion on the medical performers list in light of the verdict.

"The charges against Dr Benci were not related to the care of his patients and no complaints have been raised that caused concern for his clinical practice."

* The trust said members of the public who had concerns about the doctor should call 0191-270 5057.