A NAVY seaman who is due to serve in the Gulf is facing jail after indecent pictures of youngsters were found on his computer as part of an international crackdown on child pornography.

Merchant Navy Officer Christopher Carey, 24, who was due to sail to the Middle East last month, pleaded guilty to two charges of making and possessing indecent images of children between August and September last year.

Carey, of Melness Road, Hazelrigg, Newcastle, also pleaded guilty to possesing 85 indecent images of young children in October last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Carey was serving at sea when officers swooped on his mother's house in Hazelrigg, Newcastle, last October, as part of Operation Ore.

Caroline Goodwin, prosecuting, told the court how the images were found on two of Carey's computers.

Shaun Routledge, defending, told the court how Carey still had outstanding duties in Iraq, and asked for sentence to be adjourned until the end of the war.

He said: "This defendant is currently serving in the Merchant Navy and was due to go to Iraq last month. He still has to return back to work as a matter of his contract."

Judge Beatrice Bolton warned Carey: "You have pleaded guilty to two very serious offences. You must understand you are at risk of a custodial sentence.

"But due to your work commitments in the Merchant Navy, in what is at this time a war zone, I am adjourning sentence."

Sentencing was adjourned until September 1. He was remanded on unconditional bail to enable him to sail to the Gulf