A MAN caught with computer child pornography by police who were targeting his son for similar offences yesterday failed to get a reduction in his prison term.

Alan Hume MacAdie, 56, of Auckland Way, Stockton, was jailed for 15 months at Teesside Crown Court in March.

He had pleaded guilty to 14 specimen charges - ten of making indecent images or pseudo images of a child, and four of possessing such images.

London's Criminal Appeal Court dismissed his sentence challenge, rejecting claims it was excessive.

Judge Michael Mettyear, sitting with Mrs Justice Rafferty, said 15 months was well within the range set out in sentencing guidelines and reflected his guilty pleas.

He said that on November 19, 2002, police executed a search warrant in relation to MacAdie's son, at their home address.

The son had subscribed to an Internet site which supplied indecent images of children. Following his arrest and seizure of his computer, police continued their investigation.

MacAdie was seen acting suspiciously, then cutting up a number of floppy discs. His computer was seized and 932 indecent images were discovered.

MacAdie disputed the ages of some of the children and said he was interested in naturism.

His barrister, Catherine Fagan, told the Appeal Court 15 months was "manifestly excessive" and referred to his good character and guilty plea.