A PERVERTED young cook, who once worked in the kitchens of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White, was caught with disgusting images of children.

Christopher Lipscome, of Osprey Close, Bishops Green, pleaded guilty to six counts of making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children.

The 20-year-old was using his girlfriend’s computer to view and distribute the vile images, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Rob Welling said Lipscombe was being emailed the images from various addresses and would view them before emailing them on to other contacts.

He said: “It began with adults in their underwear, then became younger and younger and developed into level four indecent images of children.”

Indecent images are graded on a five-point scale with five being the most extreme.

Mr Welling said that Lipscombe, who was arrested in January, used a password to keep his partner from seeing how he was misusing her computer.

Defending Lipscombe, Christopher Bertham said his client was keen to become a chef.

He said: “He is working part-time, saving up for a course. He was inspired, working in the kitchens of Marco Pierre White.”

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Barnett told Lipscombe’s barrister: “The gravity of this offence is the distributing nature of these deeply unpleasant and disgusting images.

“Having looked at the pre-sentence report, he has no previous convictions and he has difficulties which need addressing. It is probably better for society that these issues are addressed.”

He sentenced Lipscombe to two years in a young offenders institution, but suspended the sentence for two years. He also imposed a two-year supervision requirement and ordered Lipscombe to attend a treatment programme.

Judge Barnett said: “I hope it will help you address your somewhat perverted tendencies.”

Lipscombe was ordered to pay £600 in costs and was placed on the sex offender register.