A FATHER-of-two downloaded indecent images of young boys following the death of his wife, a court heard.
Ronald Bailey, of New Road, Hornsea, was found to have more than 380 indecent pictures of boys after police seized his computer from his home in January this year.
Bailey, 55, appeared at Hull Crown Court yesterday after he admitted two charges of possessing indecent images of children.
Prosecutor David Dickinson said: "Police attended the defendant's home on January 25, and asked him if he had any images on his computer.
"Mr Bailey told officers the pictures were, 'Just pictures of boys in shorts and nothing more – I am not a paedophile'."
The computer was seized by police who found 384 indecent images on it.
Mr Dickinson explained to the court that, out of the 384 images, two fell under category A – the most serious.
Nine of the images were in category B and the rest were category C, the least serious.
Bailey was interviewed by police and admitted responsibility for downloading the pictures.
In mitigation, Anthony Farrell said Bailey had shown true remorse for his actions.
He said: "There is no doubt he is tremendously remorseful.
"He has let other people down here, he has let his late wife down and his own children.
"He also accepts that the children he has viewed have also been let down.
"He does not use this as an excuse but this all started around 2009 when his wife died from cancer.
"He does want to address his behaviour and accepts it is wrong."
The court heard a pre-sentence report into Bailey's case showed him as presenting a low risk to his own children, who are 14 and 17 years old.
Judge Michael Mettyear sentenced Bailey to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and given a two-year supervision order. Bailey was also put on the sex offenders register for two years.
Judge Mettyear said: "It is important to remember that there is no question of you having contact with these children.
"However, somebody else is abusing them and they may well get encouragement that there are people like you who watch and download these images.
"The court regards these as very serious offences, but I have reason to be optimistic that you will not offend again and sort your life out.
"Some other judges may have sent you to prison straight away.
"You have been lucky today – make the most of it."
