A MAN who downloaded indecent images of children has avoided jail.

Great Broughton resident Michael Wainwright has been handed a suspended 12-month prison sentence

It comes after police found 94 indecent images of children on the 59-year-old’s laptop.

Judge Steven Everett said: “Each of these images is an image of a child who has been sexually abused.

“There is no such thing as a child sex actor. These are children who have been abused.

“You don’t know what happened to them. They could be anywhere in the world.

“The trouble is there are people who will do these things with or without an audience but the fact there are people like you prepared to access these images encourages them to continue to carry out these acts of abuse.”

Prosecuting, Peter Hussey told the court that after receiving information, Cheshire Police executed a warrant at Wainwright’s home on Shaftesbury Avenue on November 8, 2022.

Wainwright was arrested, with officers seizing a laptop from the address.

Four images were found on the device initially, with Wainwright claiming in interview that there were no more.

He said the images had popped up while he was on the internet and that he had viewed and saved them.

“He admitted what he had done was shameful,” Mr Hussey said.

“He admitted he continued to access the website but denied any sexual curiosity.”

In total police discovered 94 indecent images, including 13 category C videos and four category A images, which Mr Hussey said involved a girl aged between eight and ten, for example.

He added that Wainwright’s search history ‘clearly shows an interest in child pornography’.

Despite initially pleading not guilty, Wainwright later admitted to the possession of 94 indecent photographs of children and three counts of making such photos of children – relating to 86 category C images, four category B images and four category A images.

Defending, Peter Barnett said Wainwright had ‘found it difficult to come to terms with the fact he was caught’.

He added that working in isolation during Covid and the death of family members had seen his client fall into a period of depression.

Since his arrest he has made a number of steps to improve his mental and physical health, including going to the gym and completing a degree in construction.

Judge Everett said: “This is a very straightforward case. Some of the images you possessed were images involving penetrative sexual acts with children.

“I accept that you found yourself in a dark place with undoubtedly the significant bereavement you had suffered. You will understand we all go through those phases, and we don’t all turn to these images.

“You are now full of remorse, embarrassed and have some victim empathy.”

Judge Everett suspended Wainwright’s sentence for two years, believing him to have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

As part of this, he must complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work

“I have no doubt if I pass this sentence of 12 months it would seem like an eternity to you,” he added.

“You have your chance, take it.”

Wainwright will go on the full sex offenders register for 10 years and has been barred from working with children for life.

As part of a sexual harm prevention order he is also banned from using any device that can access the internet, unless certain requirements are met.