A MAN who shared indecent child images ordered from Internet sites with fellow computer users world-wide, was yesterday jailed for a year.

Analysis of computer equipment seized from the family home of Paul Herron, in Eggleston Drive, Consett, County Durham, revealed users had access to 17,265 indecent images of children.

Durham Crown Court was told most were in the least serious category, but 273 were classed at level-four and two in the most hardcore, level-five.

Herron, 25, told police he ordered some images by credit card and was in file share schemes with other computer users, to pass around images.

He said they were for his own use, and he looked at them out of curiosity.

Graeme Gaston, for Herron, said at the time he did not appreciate the seriousness of what he had done.

Mr Gaston said he was thrown out of his home and has now moved to the Kirkstall area of Leeds, where he has found work.

Herron, of previous good character, admitted 19 specimen counts of making or possessing indecent images of children.

Herron must sign the sex offenders' register for ten years and is subject to restrictions over computer use and contact with children for five years.