AN artist management company boss who downloaded illegal images of children in galleries of legal pornographic material has been placed on the sex offenders' register.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Richard Power had not specifically searched for illegal pictures of young children, but had used search terms such as "sexy schoolgirl".

Power, also known as Richard Hardiker, of Clive Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to possessing illegal category C images of children.

Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, told how Power downloaded thousands of images in galleries onto his computer.

"He then moved the galleries from his desktop onto another folder on his computer," said Mr Berlyne.

"It was only when he viewed the images that he became aware of their content and accepts that, at that stage he knowingly possessed them and was reckless in retaining them as part of a much larger gallery that was entirely legitimate."

He added that Power had been seeking images of teenagers rather than children.

On April 24, 2017 police raided Power's home and found 1,902 illegal category C images. The age range of the children in the pictures was estimated to be between two and 15, but the majority of the images were thought to be between 10 and 12 years old.

When interviewed by police 36-year-old Power, who has no previous convictions, stated that he was not attracted to girls aged under 13 or 14.

Nicola Gatto, defending, stressed: "Ordinarily he is an industrious and hard working member of this community.

"He runs a music management business and currently manages 13 artists and has been really rather successful and as a result regularly travels abroad."

Miss Gatto added that Power had only been searching legal adult sites unaware they contained illegal images.

"This is not someone who had used the internet as a sexual predator. This is someone who has used the internet recklessly and irresponsibly," she said, adding that the illegal images were only 0.0005 percent of the total number of pictures Power had in his galleries.

She appealed to Judge Timothy Stead to be lenient.

"He had already paid a very heavy price. The courts are highly unlikely to see this man again," she said.

But Judge Stead told Power that he has now lost his good character.

"It is not apparent from the evidence that you set out to seek or gather indecent images of children," he said, but added that using the search terms he had meant there was a risk he would end up with illegal images.

"I accept you are not, by nature or inclination, attracted to children."

However, he stressed that children are harmed by there being a market for illegal images.

"Everyone, however modest their activities, if they are criminal activities, can be said to be playing a part in the overall wicked business of using children and placing indecent images on the internet, " said the judge.

"Society as a whole has to reflect its revulsion at such activities."

Judge Stead sentenced Power to a community order for 12 months during which he must participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

He must also pay £1,200 in prosecution costs and was placed on the sex offenders' register and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

In a statement following the sentencing Power said: "I am pleased that the court handled this correctly, properly taking note of the evidence and realising that I unknowingly downloaded illegal content from legal sites.

"I am grateful to my family and friends who have stood by me during these frustrating last few months."