AN ex-soldier could be jailed for downloading child pornography from the Internet.

Trevor MacPherson, 28, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to 17 charges of making indecent photographs of children between January 1, 2001 and February 1 last year.

The court heard that at the time of the offences, he was living with a girlfriend in Worton, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

After they split up, she handed the computer to a friend in Cleveland Police, and 600 images were found.

MacPherson, who works at a bar on the Quayside, in Edinburgh, was remanded on bail for pre-sentence reports.

Judge David Bryant warned him he could face prison.

MacPherson, now of Niddrie House Square, East Lothian, was ordered to report to police twice a week, and was told that he would have to register as a sex offender after his sentencing.