A Cumbrian man suspected of downloading thousands of child pornography images has appeared on the national Crimestoppers “Most Wanted” list.

Steven Carruthers, who is in his 40s and until recently lived in Great Langdale, Ambleside, is wanted on suspicion of 18 offences. He was arrested after police raided his home in March 2014.

A computer recovered from his home address was found to contain more than 5,300 indecent images of children, said a spokesman for Cumbria Police today.

The most serious images showed children being sexually abused by adults, added the spokesman.

When he was interviewed by police, Carruthers denied committing any offences. He was granted police bail but failed to return to the police station when supposed to.

Crimestoppers have now issued a national online appeal, including the following description for Carruthers.

He is 5ft 8ins tall, with short brown hair, or a shaved head, blue eyes, and a northern accent. Originally from Bury in Lancashire, his last known address was in Great Langdale, Ambleside.

He is known to use two dates of birth – one in March 1973, and the other in July in the same year.