A MAN used skills gained on a college computer course to download pornographic images from the Internet, a court heard.

James William Graham, who was classed as vulnerable and needing social services assistance, had an interest in computers and completed a course on information technology.

It enabled him to download various adult pornography, plus 61 child sex images, including one in the most serious category.

Durham Crown Court heard that the computer equipment was seized by police from his home in Peterlee, County Durham, in July 2003.

Tim Gittins, prosecuting, said when arrested and told what was found, Graham said: "I thought they went off when I deleted them."

He told police a friend set up a system for him and he admitted having viewed images of naked children, "out of curiosity".

Richard Bennett, in mitigation, said Graham, of previous good character, tapped in various search words and the images appeared on screen. But he said it was more than two years ago and Graham was not involved in distribution of the images.

He said the 50-year-old was "a fairly inadequate man" who relied on others to look after him, including social services.

He said he was also vulnerable to other people who came into his home and used the computer.

Graham, of Duden Close, admitted 16 specimen counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

Judge John Walford said he was satisfied that it would not be in the public interest to jail him, given his vulnerability. He imposed a three-year community rehabilitation order under the supervision of the probation service.

Graham must sign the sex offenders' register for five years. A five-year sexual offences prevention order was also imposed.