A COMMUNITY order has been placed on a father who pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.

Laurence Rufus Hoad Nichol, 47, of Freemantle Close, Oakridge, appeared at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday last week having pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images and one count of possession prohibited images of children.

The court heard that Nichol had made five category A images, the worst type, seven category B and 2,488 category C.

In prosecuting Jane Rowley told the court that Nichol “clearly had an attraction to children”.

In sentencing Judge Andrew Barnett said: “Looking at such images is a disgusting act and can have a huge impact on the children depicted in them. This is why you appear before this court to be deterred from doing such things again.”

Nichol was given a 18 month community order and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days. He was given a sexual harm prevention order which would last for five years.