A KENDAL man who accessed indecent images of children, including one showing a baby, has been spared an immediate jail term.
Brian Beagan's own barrister described his criminal conduct as "disgraceful" and "reprehensible" when the matter came before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court today.
Beagan, 46, appeared for sentence having entered guilty pleas to three counts of making - and one of possessing - indecent images of a child.
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The court was told Beagan viewed the sordid material on a family laptop before deleting the photos.
However, police who seized his computer in June last year recovered 46 illegal images.
Five were classed as category A - the most serious - and one featured a six-month-old child.
Judge Peter Davies heard Beagan, of Langdale Crescent, Kendal, was a man of previous good character who had sought help to address his criminal behaviour.
As a result, Judge Davies suspended an eight-month prison sentence for two years, and ordered Beagan to undergo supervision.
Beagan must also sign the sex offenders' register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order - for 10 years in each case.
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