Dispute about 'severity of child porn' delays sentence

Robin Andrew Hardy, 56, was arrested after police seized computer equipment from his office in the treasurer's department at County Hall, Durham, last summer.

More material was recovered during a search of his home in the Crossgate Moor area of Durham City.

Hardy was arrested on suspicion of possessing and making indecent images of children and was bailed pending further inquiries.

He was also suspended from his job. He was an accountant with Durham County Council.

A spokeswoman for the authority confirmed last night that he resigned from the post in October last year.

At Durham Crown Court, Hardy, now of Middleham Road, Newton Hall, Durham, admitted 14 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, and one of possession of indecent photographs of children.

He was in court yesterday for sentencing but, following an application from his barrister, Tom Moran, the hearing was adjourned. The prosecution alleges he had 3,162 indecent images in his possession.

But Mr Moran said there was a difference of opinion over the number of indecent images and in which level of severity they should be classed.

He is to meet the detective leading the inquiry to try to reach agreement over the exact number, and how many are in each of the five categories.

"We need to arrange to meet to view the images.

"If we were arguing about one or two it wouldn't matter, but there are a substantial number here."

Judge John Walford said: "I'm satisfied from what I have been told that it is going to be necessary to adjourn this case for these further investigations to take place."

Hardy was bailed to return for sentence on a date to be fixed in the week of October 31.

The county council called in police after information came to light in June last year.

A computer was removed from one of the council offices and examined by police specialists.

The county council also carried out its own internal investigation into the case.