An ex-prison officer blamed turning to alcohol during the Covid lockdown for his return to his sick behaviour of looking at images of children being sexually abused.

Anthony Lowe admitted to police that it was a “moment of weakness” that resulted in him downloading 85 indecent images of children over a 12-month period.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 51-year-old was confronted at his Middlesbrough home by police in October last year and admitted his behaviour straight away.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was interviewed by police and fully admitted the offence. He said the images were sent to him on Snapchat.

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“He said he sometimes used Viber (an instant messaging software application) and confirmed that nobody else had access to his phone.”

Lowe pleaded guilty to making 85 indecent photographs of children between October 20, 2020, and October 21, 2021.

The court heard how Lowe had 20 category A images - the most serious under the law - 19 category B images and 46 category C images.

In 2016, Lowe was given a suspended prison sentence at Worcester Crown Court after indecent pictures of children were found on his computer. He downloaded images of girls, aged 12 and 14, while working as a warden at a top security prison in Evesham.

Tabitha Buck, mitigating, said her client has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after witnessing two murders and a colleague take his own life.

She added: “He accepts he turned to drink and was drinking quite heavily at that period of time.”

Lowe, of Tavistock Road, Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 12 months in custody suspended for two years.

Recorder Benjamin Nolan KC also ordered the defendant to attend 60 rehabilitation activity requirement days and make him subject to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

The judge added: “Hopefully, you are going to get the help with your mental health problems.”

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