Want the top news headlines sent to your inbox daily? Sign up to our FREE newsletter below Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A pervert caught with vile indecent images of children falsely claimed he had been framed because of his pro-Brexit views.

David Monkhouse had downloaded some of the most serious types of videos and pictures of children as young as eight, a court heard.

In an effort to avoid justice, he told police others must have put the sick material on his computer because of his political stance.

Now, the "isolated" 38-year-old has pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images and has been given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

But he only admitted his guilt and dropped his pretence of being framed after using public money for an expert to investigate his false claims.

Judge Tim Gittins told him: "Only when an independent expert, instructed no doubt at great cost to the public purse, determined on your behalf that, contrary to your explanation in interview - that they had been downloaded by a third party to get you in trouble because of your political views, was nonsense, did you plead guilty."

The judge added: "You have lived a life of some significant isolation for many years and while that may explain you resorting to computers and social media and perhaps even pornography, what it does not excuse is you resorting to downloading and viewing indecent images of children.

"Your suggestion that each occasion must have been while you were drinking to excess is no mitigation, even if true.

"It doesn't make the poor children who are the subject of these images feel any better. It doesn't reduce their distress that you were drunk while looking at them.

"The fact is, each time they are viewed by someone like you is a further abuse of a child.

"Undoubtedly, the shame you have brought on yourself and your family will hopefully be a stark reminder to you, as will the fact that if you engage in anything like this again, you will go to custody for some time."

The court heard police raided the house in Fenham, Newcastle, where Monkhouse lives with his mum, in February last year.

Indecent images were found on a laptop and computer tower and he was arrested.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling said: "He initially said the images must have been placed there by someone else.

"He said he regularly posted on the Chronicle website as a pro-Brexiteer and had been targeted.

"He now accepts that's not the case and that he was responsible for making the images. There was no doubt from the expert report this defendant was responsible for making those images."

He had 10 of the most serious, category A images and videos, 14 category B and 17 category C and a large proportion of them were moving images.

An examination of his devices showed he had used "indicative search terms" to find the images.

The images recovered were of children aged between eight and 14.

Miss Dowling said: "The prosecution say there's evidence of deliberate and systematic searching for these images.

"It appears over a period of years he has had an interest in accessing indecent photographs of children.

"He now accepts that in the pre-sentence report but he still can't explain why he did what he did."

Monkhouse, of Angerton Gardens, Fenham, admitted three charges of making indecent images between 2014 and 2018 and was sentenced to seven months in jail suspended for 18 months with programme requirements.

He must also sign the sex offenders' register for seven years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

John Wilkinson, mitigating, said Monkhouse lived an "isolated existence" and is the sole carer for his mother, who he lives with.

He added: "He knows he has brought shame on himself and shame on others as a result of this conviction."