A FATHER who showed ‘regret and remorse’ for being in possession of indecent images of children has received a suspended sentence for his part in exchanging such images.

Nicolas James Bone, 27, of Sandpiper Way, Kempshott, was sentenced to 10 months in jail, suspended for two years, when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, 14, September.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being in possession of 11 category A indecent images of a child, five category B and 36 category C.

The court heard how police arrested Bone when they discovered an exchange of text messages where images were shared with another man.

Prosecuting Christopher Wing said: “After receiving the images he replied saying ‘You are a gentleman and a scholar LOL, I will have to show you my sources IE websites LOL.”

Bone was using the dark web and software such as TORT in a bid to try to make sure his searches were going undetected The court also heard how Bone had openly admitted to police to looking at images of girls aged 15, but was physically disgusted by images of younger children.

Mr Wing added: “He realised he got no sexual gratification for images of children under a certain age, and when watching a video of a quite young child that had been shared he threw up on his bed.”

Defending Bone, Robin Sellers said that compared to other cases of this nature, the number of images the defendant had was small.

Mr Sellers said that Bone stopped seeking these types of images. He added: “This is not the mentality of a man who is continuing to pursue these images, where he can find what he wants for his own sexual gratification legally.”

Mr Sellers added: “This is a man who can be brought back from the brink and I don’t believe a custodial sentence would help an already remorseful man.”

In sentencing, Judge Jane Miller QC said the candid confessions and cooperation with the police worked in Bone’s favour.

Judge Miller said: “This court sees people who have many thousands of images, where as you had just under 60, many of which were of a category C.”

Bone’s sentence of 10 months in jail, suspended for two years, was issued concurrently for each count and he was placed on the sex offender’s register for five years.