Caught in possession of hundreds of depraved images of a sexual nature involving animals.

A man was caught in possession of hundreds of depraved images of a sexual nature involving animals and indecent images of children.

Martin Bartrop, 35, of Runcorn, was arrested and charged with two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals, three counts of making indecent images of children, and one count of possessing indecent images of children.

He admitted to all of the offenses and was sentenced at Chester Crown Court.

During the investigation, police seized Bartrop's Dell computer and mobile phone. Forensic analysis revealed 11 indecent images of children, including six categorized as category A – the most severe level involving child rape. Two images were categorized as category B, and three as category C.

The search also uncovered 525 extreme pornographic images depicting explicit and realistic acts of intercourse with animals. These images were deemed "grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character."

A later search found an additional eight images of this nature.

The judge confirmed that the custody threshold had been crossed, but opted for a suspended sentence. Bartrop was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He will participate in the Horizon sex offender rehabilitation program, complete rehabilitation activity requirements, and perform 150 hours of unpaid work.

He is also required to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the Dell computer and mobile phone seized during the investigation.