A MAN who shared “repelling” images of young children being sexually abused was jailed for eight months.

Colin Finch, who also downloaded images of all severity, distributed some among like-minded individuals in Skype chat rooms, even discussing what they would like to do to the children featured.

Durham Crown Court was told police visited the 62-year-old, who is previously unconvicted, at his home in September 2017.

Officers removed electronic devices, including two lap-top computers, on which police examiners recovered a number of offending images.

Ian West, prosecuting, said most of the children featured were female, but one was a boy, aged about four.

Mr West said some in the most serious category carried footage of children being abused, “in obvious distressed states”.

Finch, of Blind Lane, Houghton-le-Spring admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one of distribution, between February 2016 to September 2017.

The court heard that of 94 images downloaded, 17 were in the most severe category, A, while 45, in category C, were distributed by Finch.

When interviewed he admitted having downloaded the images and having the conversations described to other Skype users to whom he passed images.

Mr West said the aggravating features of the case were the age and vulnerability of the abused children, plus the, “discernible pain and distress of some of the featured youngsters.”

Kristina Goodwin, mitigating, told the court: “Before you stands a man of 62 who was arrested on September 13, 2017, who has been awaiting to learn his fate for a considerable time.

“He’s deeply ashamed and expresses remorse through me. It’s had consequences for his family and his own life.

“He has taken steps to address his offending and has been honest and open about it with his family.”

Miss Goodwin said Finch has moved from the family home and is willing to work with the Probation Service to address his issues.

Jailing him , Judge James Adkin said the images shared by Finch were, “repelling”, but they were specifically searched for, and distributed by the defendant.

Finch will be subject to registration as a sex offender and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for ten years.