Child porn pervert spared prison term

A "respectable and decent" businessman who led a double life as an internet pervert has been spared prison - despite having more than 350 indecent photographs of children on his computer.

Keith Sanders, of Upper Green, Tettenhall, was also "addicted" to cable channel Teachers TV, which broadcasts educational programmes for schools.

The 39-year-old - who had 362 pictures on his computer, many of which were of the highest severity - was given a three-year community order at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Zaheer Afzal, prosecuting, said: "He admitted downloading and viewing indecent images of children. There were also numerous VHS recordings of Teachers TV. He had a fascination with young girls."

Sanders, who runs his own T-shirt printing company, previously pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children. The charges relate from January 1 2006 to April 1 2008.

Mr Gurdeep Garcha, defending, said his client had "genuine contrition".

He said: "This represents a fall from grace, he previously lived a quiet, peaceful, industrious life.

"This has brought great shame to him and his family, the family he comes from are respectable and decent.

"There has been finger-pointing where he lives, many people he considered friends have distanced themselves from him. He recognises he has a problem and describes it as an addiction."

Indecent photographs are graded on levels one to five, with five being the most serious. Sanders had 143 level ones, 16 level twos, 35 threes, 164 fours and four level fives.

Judge Michael Dudley sentenced Sanders to a three-year community order, supervision for 36 months and ordered him to attend an internet sexual offenders programme. He also banned him from living or working with children.