A MAN has appeared in court charged with making and distributing indecent images of children.

Jason Nicholls, 33, faces three charges of making indecent images of children, one charge of possessing indecent images of children and three charges of distributing indecent images of children.

Nicholls is accused of making a total of 160 indecent images of children, with 96 of the images classed as Category A, the most serious.

He also faces one charge of possessing extreme pornographic images which portrayed a person performing a sexual act with a horse.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between February and July last year in Seascale.

Nicholls, of Scawfell Crescent, Seascale, did not enter any pleas when he appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court today.

He was granted unconditional bail until his next hearing at Carlisle Crown Court on July 18.