A PENSIONER has been jailed after officers recovered more than 70 indecent images of children from his computer.

John Richard Copley Tesseyman, of New Village, Ingleton, was originally identified as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation targeting UK nationals making payments to a Filipino family who facilitated child abuse.

Preston Crown Court heard he was detained on suspicion of child sexual abuse offences by officers from the National Bureau of Investigation in the Philippines while visiting the country.

The 73-year-old was later released and returned to the UK but was arrested several weeks later at his home address.

During their investigation, NCA officers identified that Tesseyman had made 53 payments, totalling approximately £2,700, to payees in the Philippines between March and October 2017.

On his arrest, officers seized his computers, which were found to have 73 indecent images of children stored on them, including those of a Filipino child.

In total, NCA officers found seven Category A indecent images of children, two Category B images and 64 Category C images.

The court also heard his internet search history demonstrated a strong sexual preoccupation with young children and contained graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse.

Andrew Jefferies QC sentenced the defendant to 13 months on November 24 for four counts of making indecent photographs of children.

Tesseyman was also prohibited from travelling to a list of countries, including the Philippines, for five years, as well being made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order as a Registered Sex Offender.

NCA senior investigating officer, Daniel Waywell, said: “The Philippines remains a key focus of our work to prevent child sexual abuse by UK nationals, and we’ve cultivated a close working relationship with partners in the area to combat these crimes.

“The investigation into John Tesseyman was the result of a concerted effort from NCA officers and our colleagues overseas, demonstrating our resolve to pursue and bring to justice individuals wqo pose a sexual threat to children.”

The couple who facilitated the abuse of the children in some of the photos were both charged with offences involving the sexual exploitation of children. One of them has since been convicted and is serving a 15-year prison term in Manila.