A blind pervert convicted of downloading indecent images of children is to have his guide dog taken away because of fears he will use it to entice youngsters.
Andrew Shaw, 44, leaned on his cane in the dock as he was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years and placed under curfew.
The court heard he faces losing his black Labrador guide dog in four weeks because the Guide Dogs charity fear it could be used to lure or groom youngsters.
The married pensioner was caught with the vile images when police raided his home in Blackpool, Lancashire, after a tip off, Preston Crown Court was told.
Andrew Shaw, 44, is facing losing his guide dog because the Guide Dogs charity fears it could be used to lure or groom youngsters after he was caught having downloaded indecent images of children
Shaw, who is registered blind, has no sight in one eye and only a small amount in the other.
He pleaded guilty but claimed his sight problems made it difficult for him to judge the ages of the children whose pictures he downloaded.
Prosecutor David Temkin said police seized several devices and found 12 images deemed category A – the most serious in law, nine at category B and 51 at category C.
They showed children between the ages of three and 12, some being sexually abused by adults and in distress.
One image depicted an animal and a child. Shaw admitted the offences straight away, telling cops: ‘I don’t know why I had them.’
Janet Ironfield, mitigating, said Shaw had been married for 17 years to a wife who is also blind.
Ms Ironfield added: ‘He stumbled across the images while viewing images of adult pornography.
‘He cannot explain why he downloaded them. It is a very sorry situation with the guide dog.
‘Guide Dogs have not permitted him to bring the animal to court and will remove the animal from him.’
Judge Alan Conrad QC said: ‘If you come back before this court again for similar offences you will be going to prison.’
Shaw admitted three counts of possession of indecent photographs of a child between May and June 2016 at Blackpool Magistrates on September 18
A Guide Dogs spokesman said: ‘We were extremely concerned to learn of the serious offences for which a guide dog owner has been sentenced.
‘We are doing everything we can to gain repossession of the guide dog. We cannot comment any further for reasons of client confidentiality.’
Shaw admitted three counts of possession of indecent photographs of a child between May and June 2016 at Blackpool Magistrates on September 18.
He was sent to crown court for sentence which also includes a requirement he complete 60 days of rehabilitation activity.
He was electronically tagged and placed under a 9pm to 6am curfew for three months.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for seven years.