A PENSIONER lied to police officers about how he had accidentally downloaded hundreds of images of children being sexually abused, a court heard.

Paul Griffin, 65, of Wheatfield Close, Bury, told officers the images had "just popped up on his computer" but analysis of his software showed this to be untrue and also revealed he had identified as a child in 'chat' exchanges.

At a sentence hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Paul Dockery, prosecuting, said officers were granted a warrant to search Griffin's home on July 23, 2019.

On their arrival, the defendant was at work, but his wife admitted the officers and contact was made with Griffin who agreed to return home.

Griffin's computer was seized and although the officers did not arrest the defendant, he agreed to accompany them to the police station to be interviewed.

Officers found Griffin had downloaded 252 Category A images deemed the most severe, along with 99 Category B images and 412 at Category C.

He told officers that while there may be images on his equipment they did not come about because he intentionally downloaded them.

Mr Dockery said: "A number of images were accessible moving images of category A involving young children and very young children."

Nick Ross, defending, said Griffin, who had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children, was “profoundly ashamed and embarrassed" and added that the man's family were standing by him.

Handing Griffin an eight month prison sentence suspended for 24 months, Recorder Abigail Hudson, said: "These were nasty photographs of children being degraded and being distressed and you plainly had a sexual interest in children and your excuse making will not help you reduce the risk you pose.

"I have a choice of locking you up or getting you some help and I am just persuaded that it is worth trying to rehabilitate you."

Griffin will complete 25 days of a rehabilitation activity and undertake 80 hours of unpaid work.