A PERVERT viewed “awful” child abuse images on a video conferencing platform used by fellow sex offenders.

Richard Townsend, 56, used a chat room to watch and comment on graphic content.

Forensic examination of Townsend’s devices found 159 indecent images of children, of which 38 were in the most serious categories used to grade such material.

National Crime Agency officers also found messages written in the chat room by Townsend in response to the images he viewed.

Townsend, from Bitterne Park, admitted one count of encouraging the distribution of indecent images of children and a further six of accessing or downloading indecent images of children.

He was given a two-year suspended prison sentence at Southampton Crown Court and placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

He was also made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and must do 260 hours of unpaid work.

NCA operations manager Graham Ellis said: “For his own sexual gratification Townsend was watching images of children being abused.

“Seeking out and accessing those images is another way of abusing the children who appear in them, sometimes years after the original assault took place.

“All children have the right to feel safe and looked after.

“Anyone worried about the way they or a child they know has been treated, at any time, should call their local police.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “For each of these awful images to be created, abuse has occurred in the ‘real’ world.

“Every image is a crime scene with a vulnerable victim who will need support to recover.

“Townsend’s offending has served to fuel this hideous trade.

“It is right that he has now faced justice for his actions.”