Pensioner caught with indecent images at his home in Leeds

Marshall Morris was arrested after officers executed a search warrant at the property on Queenshill Gardens, Moortown, on June 29 last year.

Stephanie Hancock, prosecuting, said officers had received information that an internet service provider address linked to the property had been used to access illegal images.

Morris, 66, was at home on his own at the time and told officers: “I will save you some time.”

He then directed them to computers and equipment which he said he had used to access illegal images.

A total of 3,729 illegal images and movies were found on a USB stick and a hard drive.

Miss Hancock said 213 movies were at category A - the most serious level of offending.

The images featured young children of both sexes.

Some were described as “extremely young, vulnerable, children” aged between one and four years of age. Morris was interviewed and admitted full responsibility for the offending.

Miss Hancock said: “He said it was because he was 65 and did not have a partner and that he was bored and lonely.”

Morris pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children.

Michael Walsh, prosecuting, said Morris had admitted the offences at an early stage.

Mr Walsh said Morris had been frank with police and was willing to receive treatment to address his offending behaviour.

Morris was made the subject of a three-year community order, during which he must take part in a sex offender treatment programme.

He was also told he must go on the sex offender register for five years. An order was also made for the seizure and destruction of Morris computers and equipment.

The Recorder of Leeds, judge Peter Collier, QC, said: “It is quite clear from what I have read about you that you are someone who would benefit from doing a significant amount of work to understand what it was that led you to commit these offences.”