AN outside broadcast engineer who claimed he downloaded indecent images due to "boredom" has been punished by a judge.

Peter Knox had been accessing such material for 16 years, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Defence counsel Stuart Neale said his client had time his hands between contracts and had submitted to temptation due to "boredom".

But Judge Angela Nield told Knox that it was the actions of people like him which supported the "dreadful industry".

Knox. 57, of Sunnybower Street, Tottington, had pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images.

He was given a 12-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours community service.

Knox must also observe a 12-month sexual harm prevention order, restricting his internet usage.

Mr Neale said the defendant had been shunned by one of his daughters after his arrest.

He also told the court that the volume of indecent images, given the length of time covered by the offences, was comparatively low.

The court heard he had 68 pictures at the most serious level of child pornography, 33 of which were moving images. He had 377 other images stored on his computer.