A FORMER councillor created and shared hundreds of pornographic images of children as young as 18- months-old, a court heard.

Terry Brookes, 58, from Grays, resigned from his post as Labour councillor for West Thurrock and South Stifford last year, shortly before he was arrested by police in August.

He was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to three counts of creating indecent images of children and one account of distributing indecent images of children.

Charlotte Davison, barrister prosecuting in the case, said: “Police carried out a warrant at Mr Brookes’ home address after receiving information suggesting the crimes took place.

“Police seized two laptops for the address.

“The defendant admitted having the pictures and said he was sent them via Yahoo emails and Skype video call technology, but said he did not want them.

“He initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea for the hearing. The most serious crime is sending the images.We have seen that he was a man of previous good character.”

Judge Samantha Leigh made sentenced Mr Brookes in court.

She said he was in a safe guarding role as a councillor, and that was an aggravating factor in the case.

Speaking to the defendant, she added: “You have pleaded guilty to three counts of creating images and one count of sharing pictures to those who share your views about wanting to look at child pornography.

“Each time pictures like this are looked at, children are being abused, these children know these pictures are out there and they have to live with that. I don’t know how they do that.”

He was also sentenced to 90 days of rehabilitation and 200 hours unpaid work.

Mr Brookes will appear on the Sex Offenders’ Register and the court placed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on him, both last for ten years.

The conditions of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order are that he must not have a computer or electric device that has access to the internet unless it can retain a history log and it can be inspected by police.

The other condition is that he cannot own an electronic device that can store photographs unless it can be inspected.