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A Co Down man has been sentenced to six months behind bars after being found with 20,000 sex abuse images that included stills of child abuse and bestiality.

The 29-year-old was caught in a joint investigation involving both the PSNI and National Crime Agency.

Ramsay Pennycook was convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children, possessing prohibited images of children and a charge of possessing extreme pornography relating to images of bestiality at Downpatrick Crown Court on Monday, November 27.

NCA branch commander Rob Burgess said: "The NCA and PSNI are working together to tackle criminal threats to Northern Ireland, including detecting and putting before the courts those who watch child abuse online.

"Pennycook was viewing material of an extremely disturbing nature, prolonging the abuse of the victims within the images.

"His sentence should serve as a warning to like-minded people who think their own activity will go unnoticed or unpunished."

Ramsay is 29, not 39 as first thought by the NCA.

The material held by the Holywood man included items in the most serious category for child abuse images.

Pennycook was sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court to six months in jail and 18 months on licence and he was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and has been given a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

Some of the charges of which Pennycook was accused went back as far as 2012 and dated right up to 2016.

Among the images discovered on his computer and listed among the charges he faced at court were an image titled 'Baby + Man, Green Shirt' and also 'Donkey F***'.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "By viewing these truly horrific images, Pennycook has fuelled a vile trade in children's suffering.

"Every indecent image he downloaded was a record of a crime which will have a devastating and lifelong impact on the victims.

"We need to ensure that more action is taken by internet companies and by government to tackle the production and distribution of this horrific material and protect more children from abuse."

Anyone concerned about a child or young person who may be suffering abuse can call the NSPCC Helpline 24/7 for advice on 0808 800 5000.