A MAN who freely admitted he became aroused by children under the age of 10 has been jailed for 20 months.

Andrew Cripps, of Meadow Park, Sherfield-on-Loddon, pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of children, including category A images, which are the worst classification, one count of distributing indecent images of children, including category A images, and one count of possessing a document known as the “paedophile manual”.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday last week, the court heard the window cleaner had been accused of making 26 category A images, 57 category B and 83 category C. He was also charged with distributing 17 category A images, 21 category B and 20 category C.

The court heard Cripps was arrested on October 6 last year, after police found he had been having conversations of a “vile nature” with a man living in West Yorkshire.

Tom Evans, prosecuting, told the court the man would send images of his granddaughter to the defendant, holding signs with “disgusting messages on them”.

Mr Evans added the pair would converse back and forth, with Cripps calling the West Yorkshire man ‘lucky’ and asking if he could sniff the granddaughter's underwear.

The court heard there was even an exchange of a video of the Yorkshire man sexually abusing his 10-month old great-granddaughter, to which Cripps would respond by sending images of his gentials.

In one exchange between the pair over a category A image of a four-year-old girl, the court heard a message written by Cripps which said: “Look at this dirty little sl*t.”

The court heard how Cripps admitted to being sexually aroused by children between the ages of five and 10.

Representing himself, Cripps only said: “Sorry for causing so much trouble.”

In sentencing, judge Keith Cutler did highlight Cripps on his frankness with him about his sexual nature.

Cripps was sentenced to 20 months in jail for the distribution of indecent images, eight months for the making of indecent images and three months for possessing the “paedophile manual”, all to run concurrently.

He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years and was ordered to pay £140 victim surcharge.