A former policeman who downloaded nearly 22,000 indecent images of children has been jailed for 18 months.
James Christy, 62, from Leyland in Lancashire, claimed the material had got onto his computer equipment while he was accessing internet music.
Christy, who had worked in the juvenile bureau before leaving the force, was banned from working with children.
He pleaded guilty on Monday at Preston Crown Court to 25 offences of making and possessing indecent photographs.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.
The material was found when the police searched his home in March last year, the court heard.
When interviewed, Christy – whose address cannot be revealed on the orders of the judge – said he did not get pleasure out of viewing images like that and that he found them sickening.
Judge Michael Byrne said he did not accept Christy’s explanation that the total number of images could have been downloaded inadvertently.
