A MAN who used the Internet to download sickening images of children on to his home computer has walked free from court.

Desmond Stenner also filmed a "teaching" video of girls dancing at a community centre in Hebburn, South Tyneside, but used the camera to focus on the youngsters in an inappropriate way.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that customs and excise officers raided the 49-year-old's home after he ordered a book from America over the Internet.

Robert Adams, prosecuting, told the court: "The officers seized a number of items including videos and a computer hard-drive, which revealed a number of images of naked males and females of varying ages."

The court heard how one of the videos contained footage from two dance classes, taken between 1992 and 1994.

Unemployed Stenner admitted downloading the images of children and producing the video. He told police he had an interest in "photographs and nudity".

Defence barrister Christopher Dorman O'Gowan said the book which sparked the search was available in shops in Britain and no charges arose out of him purchasing it.

Stenner, of The Willows, Jarrow, pleaded guilty to making an indecent photo between June 1998 and June 1999, and taking an indecent photo between 1992 and 1994. He was fined £300 fine, with £700 prosecution costs.

Judge Maurice Carr said: "Because you are 49 years old and of previous good character, I can deal with you by way of financial penalty."