A MAN faces jail after police raided his home and found more than 2,000 indecent images of children on his computer.

Michael Richards, 49, was caught during the worldwide child pornography investigation, Operation Ore.

He was arrested after US police found his details on the database of an American child pornography website he visited, and tipped off British officers. Detectives discovered 2,194 downloaded images on his computer.

Yesterday, Richards, of Adelaide Terrace, Shildon, County Durham, admitted 16 charges of possession of pornographic images of children.

Sheila Moore, prosecuting, told Peterlee Magistrates' Court, in east Durham, that Richards asked police who went to his home on October 4 last year: "Is it an offence to look?"

She said: "Under questioning, he claimed to have done it out of curiosity.

"The images on his computer covered the entire range of child pornographic images."

Richards downloaded the images between September 1 and October 28, 2001.

Magistrates said their sentencing powers were insufficient and committed Richards to Durham Crown Court for sentencing. He was granted unconditional bail.

Three other men appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court charged in relation to Operation Ore.

David Stanley Parsons, 30, of Springholme Terrace, Stockton; Stephen John Cuff, 29, of Spring Court, and Timothy Case, 26, of Windrush Grove, both Darlington, entered no plea.

Mr Parsons faces 16 charges of making indecent photos of children after more than 10,000 images were allegedly found on his computer.

Mr Cuff and Mr Case face 16 charges of possessing images of child pornography or making or taking indecent photos of children.

It is alleged 3,715 images were found on Mr Cuff's computer, and 431 on Mr Case's.

All were granted unconditional bail and will appear before Peterlee magistrates again on July 8 for committal to crown court.