A RUNCORN man who had more than 600 indecent images of children including pictures featuring animals has been jailed at Warrington Crown Court.

Robert Lee Storey's images were described as 'of the very worst kind that has come before this court' by Judge Merfyn Hughes QC.

Storey, 34, of Green Coppice in Norton, was caught when customs officers watched DVDs posted to him from Holland and found sexual images featuring dogs and donkeys.

Police searched his home and found 670 indecent images of children on his computer. They also found he had created a further 17 such images.

The most disturbing images cannot be reported but included a video of a girl of five or six being abused.

Storey told police he had been depressed and had downloaded the files out of 'morbid curiosity' and when he was charged he told them he was 'extremely remorseful.'

He also claimed to be disgusted by the images involving children.

But Judge Hughes noted Storey had arranged the images into three folders for easy access.

Storey had already pleaded guilty to making the images and possessing the others, as well as importing prohibited goods and he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

After the case, investigating officer PC Neil Burdekin, said: "It's a good example of customs and police working together to solve horrendous crimes that originate abroad. If everyone in Storey's position didn't commit these crimes, then the abuse would stop."