A MAN was found to have indecent images of children stored on his mobile phone when he was arrested for other matters.

When Rishi Bagga’s computer was searched, officers not only found more child pornography but also hundreds of images of bestiality. The 22-year-old has been ordered to go on a three-year sex offenders’ programme to prevent him looking for the perverted material.

A judge was told that he was holding down a job and society would be better served with him getting help rather than spending a short time in prison.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Bagga was arrested in April 2010 for a matter that was not proceeded with.

His mobile, which was internet-enabled, was examined and it was discovered he had been using it to look at child pornography.

Officers also saw that he had been putting terms such as ‘incest’ and ‘child sex’ into search engines.

They went to his home and seized his computer, which contained a further seven pictures of child pornography.

Officers also found 471 images of bestiality on the machine and when he was questioned he admitted they were all his.

Bagga, formerly of Woodside Avenue, Walcot, admitted two counts of making and two of possessing child pornography, and possessing extreme pornography.

Judith McCulloch, defending, said her client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

She said at the time of the offence he was unemployed, living in bedsit accommodation and using drink and drugs.

Since then he had moved to Bristol, where he was working selling mobile phones earning in the region of £1,200 a month.

She said he had been open with the probation service and admitted he had a problem, and had now minimised his internet use.

“It does seem in this case, unlike many of those before the courts for this type of offence, that there is genuine work that can be done by this defendant,” she said.

“His employer is supportive of him. It is a matter this defendant would wish to undertake. He is supported by his family. The defendant tells me his life has moved on substantially.”

Passing sentence, Judge Douglas Field said: “In my judgement the starting point within the guidelines is a short period of custody: six months to two years.

“I have to decide whether the public interest requires me to send you straight into prison or for there to be an opportunity for this problem you undoubtedly have to be addressed.

“If I were to sentence you to a short period in prison you will be released still having these problems. It is in the public interest to give you the opportunity to deal with this problem.

“A community order is not a soft option: it is three years in length and requires you to complete a sex offenders’ programme. You will have to turn up for meetings and engage in treatment.”

He imposed a three year community order with a sex offender programme, told Bagga to register as a sex offender for five years and banned him from working with children.