A child protection officer has been dismissed after police searched his computer and found images of children being sexually abused.
The Social Worker, Jonathan Ward, hoarded over 100 of the indecent images of children on his hard drive.
He reportedly also kept a bag of girls’ knickers as a “trophy” in his home.
The 46-year-old, who worked at specialist child protection units for two councils, was suspended from his job and then fired – but has been spared jail time.
Ward had apparently worked for Surrey County Council and had previously been with Brighton and Hove City Council in East Sussex, UK.
Police raided his home last December after a tip-off where they found the abuse images and underwear alongside a collection of adult porn DVDs.
Ward admitted to six counts of making indecent images of children and was handed a seven-month jail term, suspended for two years, as well as 120 hours’ community service.
He was also made the subject of 5-year restrictions on contact with children and internet use.
Judge Paul Tain told Ward at Hove Trial Centre: “People who support the degradation of children through downloading images participate in the crime and participate in the abuse.”
Surrey County Council said following the case: “Mr Ward was suspended as soon as these allegations came to light and has since been dismissed. The offences are unrelated to his work.”
Brighton and Hove Council, for whom he worked from 1999 to 2015, said: “We are shocked and saddened but would like to emphasise that the offences are not connected to his employment with us.”
Sussex Police said: “None of the images, taken from the internet, are believed to be of children known to Ward and there is no evidence of physical contact offending.”