A MORTGAGE advisor who was caught with thousands of images of child pornography has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Robert Owen, 48, also spoke in chat rooms about incest and took indecent photographs of the daughter of a woman he met on an internet

A MORTGAGE advisor who was caught with thousands of images of child pornography has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Robert Owen, 48, also spoke in chat rooms about incest and took indecent photographs of the daughter of a woman he met on an internet dating site.

His barrister said he was deeply ashamed and disgusted with himself.

Owen, of Berkeley, Letchworth GC pleaded guilty to 19 charges relating to child pornography. They included, making images, possessing them, distributing them and taking photographs.

Prosecutor Alan Landsbury told Luton Crown Court that police seized lap tops and other equipment from his home on March 22 last year and at another address in Arlesey, where he was arrested.

Analysis revealed a total of 3,748 images. The majority were of the least serious category but 500 covered the four other levels of seriousness.

In his first interview he said the number would be in tens rather that hundreds and they were images that had come through when he was looking at adult pornography.

But then officers found the photographs of a girl aged about 10 with her mother.

In November he was interviewed again and admitted taking the photographs. Police located the girl and she was interviewed. She said she had been reluctant and distressed about being photographed.

Julia Furley, defending Owen, said: "He had an extremely unhealthy obsession with adult pornography, which he was viewing on a daily basis. He began viewing more hard pornography which then manifested itself in images of children.

"They are deeply unpleasant and deeply distasteful and he is quite frankly disgusted with himself. He did not think of the children as victims but understands fully now."

Judge Richard Foster told Owen: "People have to realise that these children are real people and real victims who suffer incalculable harm to feed the perverted desires of people like you.

"You have participated in this evil market."

When Owen is released from prison he will have to abide by a sex offenders' prevention order, register as a sex offender and not work with children.