A DOCTOR of politics exposed as an addict of a drug known as “coma in a bottle”

has been caught with animal and child pornography.

Martin Thomas was caught with 1,800 videos and pictures – some depicting animal sex – when police raided his home in North Yorkshire last year.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the collection found on the 39-year-old’s computer also included images of children, some of which featured sadism.

Thomas was a spokesman at North Yorkshire County Council until his dismissal for drugs last year.

He was said by his barrister to have made catastrophic decisions, but he pointed to Thomas’ good work record and responsible employment.

Rod Hunt, mitigating, said: “That is all thrown away...

they (the offences) do have their source in illness rather than in badness.”

The court heard how Thomas, of South Parade, Northallerton, may soon move to Wales to be near his parents so they can “look after him”.

Mr Hunt said: “This is a defendant who clearly has been suffering from mental and physical difficulties for some time, and no doubt that was at the heart of this temptation to offend. He has embarked on a course of self-rehabilitation.

He is deeply ashamed of what he has done, but he has conquered that shame to some extent.”

The indecent images were found last summer when police searched his flat looking for drugs illegally imported from the Continent.

The Border Agency launched a probe after officers intercepted two packages at an airport destined for Thomas’ home and work.

It emerged he had become hooked on the party drug GBL while he battled depression and fatigue.

Thomas was fined for the drugs offence, and given a sixmonth jail sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted making and possessing indecent images.

Judge Tony Briggs also put him on the sex offenders’ register for seven years and ordered him to undergo a treatment and supervision programme.