Louis Alexander Szasz, a 41-year-old water cooler engineer, was sentenced in Southampton Crown Court for possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Szasz pleaded guilty to six charges, including making indecent photographs of a child and distributing indecent images, with the offences taking place between August 2016 and May 2019.

During a police search of his home in Bridge Road on May 18, 2019, officers discovered a large number of files on his MacBook and external hard drive. These included 683 category A images – the most serious category – as well as extreme pornography involving animals.

Prosecution barrister, Rose Burns, stated that Szasz claimed he "just stumbled across" the photos and "didn't know why he downloaded them." He also told police he didn't often look at the images and wasn't addicted to them.

The court heard that Szasz used the "black" or dark web to download the files and distributed some of them via a sharing application.

Defending Szasz, Peter Asteris described his client as "extremely vulnerable" and suffering from "extremely low self-esteem." He highlighted that Szasz cares for his terminally ill father and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Recorder Richard Smith QC, during sentencing, acknowledged that the offences warranted a custodial sentence but recognized Szasz's efforts to address his behavior and the possibility of rehabilitation.

Szasz was given a 30-month community order, which includes completing 40 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work. He will also be subject to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Mr Smith warned Szasz that if he failed to comply with the order, he would have no one to blame but himself.