A MAN who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children has been sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

Paul David German, 51, also distributed six child porn pictures during a period of offending between July last year and January.

This was discovered by police who called at his home and seized devices which contained the illegal material.

German pleaded guilty to the distribution crime along with charges of making and possessing 281 indecent photographs of children. Three of these images were in category A - the highest - while four were category B and 274 category C.

German, of Kendal Parks Road, Kendal, was said to have since contacted the "Stop it Now" organisation he was made aware of following the police visit.

After hearing mitigation and considering background information, Recorder Ciaran Rankin imposed a three-year community order.

German must complete up to 50 days of rehabilitation and a sex offender treatment course. In addition, he must abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order, and sign the sex offenders' register, both for five years.