A LONG-SERVING council officer jailed yesterday for downloading child pornography on his work computer plans to start a new life in Thailand on his release.

Robin Andrew Hardy, 56, a senior accountant in the treasurer's department at County Hall, Durham, catalogued hundreds of indecent images.

Durham Crown Court heard he often "worked late" downloading pictures, some of which he printed out and took home.

He was on a final written warning for having adult pornography on his work computer, in September 2001, but the latest material came to light when it was sent for repair in the County Hall IT department, in June last year.

Tim Gittins, prosecuting, said: "Members of staff discovered images which clearly alarmed them and it led to it being reported to police."

The computer was seized and during a police search at his former home, in Crossgate Moor, Durham, he unsuccessfully tried to conceal a bundle of indecent child photographs printed from his work computer.

Hardy was suspended and, when interviewed, told officers he gained no sexual gratification from the material, which he said "found him" rather than him looking for it, while on general pornography sites.

Mr Gittins said Hardy also said it was a means of getting himself sacked so he could move to Thailand.

Tom Moran, in mitigation, said Hardy, a former student in Durham who stayed to work in the city, had given 34 years' service at County Hall.

Mr Moran described Hardy's personal circumstances as unconventional, saying he never married but planned to move to Thailand to live with a woman he has corresponded with for 14 years.

He said his client planned to support himself and his future partner from the sale of his house in Durham.

Hardy, of Middleham Road, Newton Hall, Durham, admitted 14 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and one of possession of such photographs.

Jailing him for four months, Judge Peter Armstrong told Hardy: "Your fall from grace is just about complete."

He said a prison sentence had to be imposed "to deter others who think it might be a good idea to download pictures of children being sexually abused".