A PENSIONER was jailed for 18 months after being found with hundreds of pornographic images of children on his computer, its external hard drive and DVDs.

Michael Coakley, 66, was arrested following an investigation in Toronto where it was discovered DVDs containing obscene DVDs had been sent to UK purchasers, including him.

Armed with a search warrant, police went to his home and when asked if he had anything he should not have, he immediately indicated the computer, hard drive and DVDs.

Prosecutor Rachel Robertson said the pornography involved children as young as three.

Coakley, of Malmesbury Road, Shirley, Southampton, admitted 26 counts of making a total of almost 1,700 indecent images.

The court heard he had two previous convictions for possessing and distributing similar material.

David Storry, defending, said Coakley had never tried to hide his interest in children. He was socially isolated and when he suffered depression, he was tempted to view such images.

Coakley was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and made the subject of a sex offences prevention order to run indefinitely.