A man has been sentenced after sick child porn photos and movies were found on his laptop.

Police who raided the home of Samuel Edward Armstrong Whetton, 24, found he had downloaded scores of illegal still and moving images.

Carlisle Crown Court was told that more than 30 of these were classed as category A - the most serious.

Whetton, of Park Terrace, Workington, pleaded guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children between November, 2013, and June last year. He also admitted one charge of possessing a prohibited image.

At his sentencing hearing, prosecutor Huw Edwards told the court police seized Whetton's laptop after visiting his house on June 10.

Some 28 category A images were subsequently recovered, along with 35 category B and 16 category C. There were also illegal videos - nine in category A and five category B.

And 211 prohibited images in "cartoon form" were also found.

It was said police had previously received information that the computer's IP address was being used for illegal activity.

Following his arrest, Whetton told officers he first found the indecent images of children "by accident" using file-sharing networks.

"But he accepted he went on to actively search for them," Mr Edwards told the court.

"He said to police during the interview that his preference when looking for images was boys aged 10 to 15.

"But he accepted that he downloaded images of children as young as five years old."

The court heard there was no evidence of image distribution - only possession.

Marion Weir, defending, gave mitigation for Whetton, a man of previous good character.

His offences, she said, were committed in the isolation of his bedroom and had started off as mere "curiosity".

But a habit developed and he had become "desensitised" to his criminal behaviour.

Whetton had expressed "sincere" relief when police came calling, said Miss Weir, who added: "He recognised at that stage the enormity of the situation but, more importantly, the fact that he needed help to deal with his offending.

"He is genuinely remorseful. He is ashamed and disgusted by his behaviour."

Judge Barbara Forrester imposed a three-year community order. This comprised 200 hours' unpaid work, a rehabilitation requirement and attendance on a sex offenders' course.

Whetton was made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, and was placed on the sex offenders' register.

He was also told that his case would be reported to the independent safeguarding authorities.