A MAN who was caught with more than 600 indecent images of children on his computer, including 190 category A photos, has been spared jail.

Ian Alexander Dodson, of St Judes Close in Bishopdown, was sentenced to three charges of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, May 26.

The 60-year-old previously pleaded guilty to the charges on March 31 after 657 explicit photographs of children were found on his computer after it was flagged by the authorities.

Dodson downloaded 190 Category A images, 274 Category B images, and 193 Category C images between October 23, 2020, and June 23, 2021.

Images involving penetrative sexual activity are classed as Category A, while images involving non-penetrative sexual activity are Category B and indecent images not falling in categories A or B are Category C.

Ian Morrell, defending, explained how Dodson, who had been diagnosed with OCD, accepts what he did was wrong and that it was "without thought".

Dodson, who has been married to his wife for 30 years, had to resign from his job after the photographs were found and he has been unemployed since then.

A letter of remorse, written by Dodson, was given to the court and Mr Morrell explained how his client had been engaging in sexual offence rehabilitation prior to his sentencing.

Judge Andrew Barnett sentenced Dodson to a three-year community order, 45 RAR days and a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

The order allows the police full access to Dodson's devices for the duration.

Dodson used three devices to access the indecent material, which had been seized, and an order was made for them to be destroyed.

Judge Barnett said Dodson had "comparatively few photographs" adding that in other cases the number of indecent images of children can "run into the thousands".

While sentencing Dodson, Judge Barnett said: "This is a tragedy to see someone of your age standing in the dock before me.

"People who do this are engaging in a disgusting habit which I think you now realise in your letter of remorse.

"I hope this court and no other court ever sees you again."