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 judge branded a BBC journalist who was caught with images of children “grotesque” after he claimed he had “done nothing wrong”.

Pervert Lloyd Watson was found with a stash of indecent videos and pictures of kids on his computer after police searched his Gateshead home.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that eight of the films and one photo were of the most serious kind, while a further 27 were of a less-serious nature.

Officers also discovered a document on the 33-year-old’s computer entitled “confessions.text”, in which Watson claimed he had “done nothing wrong”.

The court was told Watson, who downloaded some of the material from the dark web, wrote in the document: “I start by saying, let me explain, I have done nothing wrong.

“Damage has been done. It’s the people who made the material that should be hunted down. They’re the ones putting these kids through this.

“I’m not condoning it, nor am I helping it”.

(Image: PA)

The note prompted a judge to brand Watson “grotesque” as she gave him a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Judge Amanda Rippon said: “Why is it wrong on my part, you ask? Every single child you have watched being abused on a film you have personally abused by watching it.

“Their humiliation is completed because you have watched it and gained whatever sexual gratification you have got from it. You have abused them personally, if not from contact, you have abused them by watching it.”

Watson, of Bishops Park Road, Gateshead, described some of the material as “beautiful” and said some of the abuse victims were “putting on a show” for viewers.

The court was told he also wrote in the document “I use this stuff for a cheap thrill, nothing more” and “There are plenty of people out there who would love what is in this folder. Are we bad people?”.

Judge Rippon added: “Yes, you are. Bad does not even begin to cover what you are. You’re grotesque. Your justifications are disgraceful. Your thoughts on the subject, I’m barely able to scrape them out the gutter they belong in.”

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said the videos and images, which were found on Watson’s computer in March this year, included one child who could have been as young as six.

The child, referred to as a “slave” during the film, was said to be in severe distress during the ordeal.

Michael Miller, mitigating, said Watson’s attitude had now changed and he’d sought psycho-therapy after he agreed he was “willing to deal with the deficiencies of his thinking”.

He was given nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, was made to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

It is understood Watson worked for the BBC News website in Newcastle, although he is no longer employed by the organisation.

A statement from the BBC said: "He will no longer be working for the BBC.

"His crimes were entirely unrelated to his work for us."

Following Watson's sentence an NSPCC spokesman said: “Every image of a child Watson had on his computer represents a child who has suffered abuse in the real world.

“There can be no excuse to have such a sickening catalogue of abuse and every child will need support to recover.

“The NSPCC is calling on the government to implement a tough action plan to tackle the supply of, and demand for, child sexual abuse images online.”

Children who need help and support can contact Childline on 0800 1111. Adults with any concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 8005000.