A MAN who spent years downloading indecent pictures of children from the internet contacted the authorities when his guilt became too much.

Ian Gofton called a mental health crisis team to confess to his crimes and said he did not want to speak to the police but knew he had to.

When officers searched his home in Stockton, they found a computer tower which had evidence of 70 still and moving images of abuse.

The autistic 48-year-old was described as "a very lonely, sad figure" by a judge when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced.

His lawyer, Andrew Turton, said he had "a number of unusual difficulties" and told Judge Tony Briggs: "He's a vulnerable person."

He added: "There was self-reporting of these matters. Guilt effectively got the better of him for what he had done and volunteered information.

"He is accepting of the fact he has distorted thinking and needs help to deal with those issues . . . he has various other difficulties."

Gofton, of Durham Road, was given a three-year community order with supervision after he admitted making indecent images of children.

Judge Briggs also ordered him to sign on the sex offenders' register for five years, and imposed restrictions on his use of computers.

He said: "I accept this is a highly unusual case, and one where you volunteered to the authorities the fact that you had been doing this.

"In the future, it is necessary to continue to supervise you. It is for that reason, and that reason alone, there will be a community order.

"I am aware a variety of other measures outside the jurisdiction of probation orders which I'm confident will continue to protect the public."