A 62-year-old man has been given a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.
Patrick Hatchelt, of Linten Close in Hitchin, appeared before Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Monday after admitting four counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing an indecent photograph of a child.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image of an act of intercourse with an animal.
Hatchelt was handed a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He has been also given a one year supervision requirement and put on the sex offenders register for seven years.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here