AN overseas worker caught with hundreds of sick child abuse images on his devices when he stepped off an aeroplane has been given a suspended prison sentence and put on the Sex Offender’s Register.

Michael Robinson was picked up by officers as he walked through the arrivals gate at Newcastle International Airport – having just stepped off a long haul flight from the UAE.

The 47-year-old oil and gas worker had been accessing indecent images and videos of children – unaware law enforcement servers had picked up on his illicit activity.

He had been due to take a period of leave and was heading home to Northumberland when he was met at the airport by officers who seized his devices and took him in to custody for questioning.

When detectives searched his devices, which included a hard drive and memory stick, they found more than 700 indecent images – 145 of which were categorised as the most serious.

Robinson, of Mart Field, Rothbury, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, January 14 where he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years after admitting three counts of making indecent images of children.

He will also be placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for ten years and is subject to a Sexual harm Prevention Order with strict prohibitions for ten years.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Fiona Evans, from Northumbria Police, said: “Protecting the vulnerable from abuse is our number one priority and we will continue to pursue those who put children at risk of harm, and bring them before the courts.

“Robinson will be carefully monitored and will remain in close contact with our officers to ensure he does not pose any risk to the public.”