A man has confessed to owning hundreds of indecent images of children across a range of categories of seriousness.

Daniel Meredith, 30, had the images between December 2019 and July 2020.

Brought before Bolton Crown Court this week he pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children and was told he would be brought back at a later date to learn the fate in store for him.

Judge Tom Gilbart said: “As you will have been told these matters are viewed seriously by the courts and the fact I am adjourning this matter is no indication of the sentence that will follow.

“All options will be open to the court.”

The prosecution was represented by Juliet Berry, who set out the charges.

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Meredith, of Hurst Street, Leigh, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing 113 ‘Category B’ images, another count possessing 72 ‘Category C’ images and a final count of possessing 76 ‘Category A’ images.

He owned all of the images between December 3 2019 and July 24 for following year.

Colin Buckle, defending, pointed out that Meredith was ‘of previous good character’ and said he would present a more detailed case at the sentencing hearing.

Concerning the defendant’s eventual fate, he said: “I’ve warned him of the sentence that could follow.”

Judge Gilbart set a date for the sentencing hearing on March 17 this year.