A Radcliffe man who accessed “extreme pornography” while serving a suspended sentence for possessing indecent images of children has been spared jail.

Lee Hilton, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of processing extreme pornography while on a suspended sentence after he was convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

Hilton, of Blackburn Street, Radcliffe, was summoned to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in April after two images of "extreme" pornography were found on his mobile phone which depicted sexual acts between a woman and a horse.

The court heard that Hilton was sent the images using the social media application Kik whilst engaging in a “consensual” sexual conversation with another user.

As part of the suspended sentence, software had been installed on Hilton’s phone to allow police to monitor his internet usage.

At the hearing in April, Hilton was described by his barrister David Morton as “a very lonely man” who used social media for company.

The case was adjourned by Recorder Neil Usher who sought to ascertain whether an alternative to a custodial sentence was possible.

At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Recorder Abigail Hudson did not activate the suspended sentence which would have seen Hilton sent to prison.

Instead, she imposed an 18-month community order with a 12-month rehabilitation requirement, she also ordered Hilton to attend a sexual offenders programme and to pay £400 towards the prosecution costs.

She noted that some “outrage” in the community had forced Hilton to move home several times but said Hilton’s engagement with the probation service had been “remarkably positive".

Recorder Hudson added: “You are a gentleman who has struggled with social isolation and have poor coping mechanisms, I see little value in activating the suspended sentence.

“The sentence of this court is a community order for 18 months, if you breach this order you can be brought back to this court and resentenced.”