The court heard that a forensic examination of four devices seized from his County Durham home uncovered a number of videos of child sex abuse, one of which was 90 minutes long.

Mark Atkins, prosecuting, said: “In total, three category A videos, four category B videos and seven category C videos were found across all devices.

“The hard drive within the computer tower, which was seized from the bedroom of the defendant’s daughter, was found to contain numerous user accounts and also six accounts which had been created and then deleted.

“The offending content was found to have been accessed via those accounts and the forensic analysis found that the defendant had used search terms consistent with indecent images of children.”

Cormack was interviewed by police on October 10, last year, during which he admitted downloading the indecent images of children but stated that he had downloaded the content inadvertently whilst downloading adult pornography.

Mr Atkins added: “He denied having a sexual interest in children and when he was asked if he had seen the offending content he replied ‘no comment’.

“He was also asked why he did not delete the content and again he replied ‘no comment’.”  

Judge James Adkin told Cormack: “The images are utterly repellent images of sexual abuse of real children.

“The reason why imprisonment is suggested as the baseline sentence is because without the consumer, that is you, there would be no market.

“By downloading indecent images of children you indirectly encourage the abuse of real children, across the globe, which is then filmed and streamed to people like you.”

Cormack, of South View, Tantobie, Stanley, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years.

He must complete 40 rehabilitation activity days and abide by an electronically monitored curfew for six months between 7pm and 7am

The 40-year-old must sign the sex offender’s register for ten years.