A HAPPILY married man with a responsible local authority job had a “dark” side to his character - an interest in web child porn, a court heard today.

Robert David Roberts, 57, of North Road, Caernarfon, described by a judge as “well-versed” about IT, received a six months suspended jail term and was ordered to undertake a rehabilitation activity and 180 hours unpaid work.

He admitted making indecent images and possessing extreme porn.

Roberts must also register as a sex offender for seven years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for the same period.

Judge Huw Rees told him at Caernarfon crown court :”I fully appreciate this is a substantial fall from grace for you. You have, by your behaviour, shattered the stability of a secure family life.

“I can readily accept your shame and contrition are genuine. In viewing this material your thinking was seriously distorted.”

The judge said the offending showed a dark side to Roberts’s character. He added :”This sentence isn’t to be regarded as a soft option, the reverse is true. This sentence is meant to be a more constructive sentence imposed by the court rather than any short sentence of imprisonment.”

Prosecuting counsel Ryan Rothwell said police, acting on intelligence, searched the defendant’s home in May. On devices officers had found 74 indecent child images and one movie, mostly in the lowest category of seriousness. But there were 3,500 files indicating a sexual interest in children.

Mr Rothwell said Roberts had visited an adult chatroom used for the exchange of pictures and he also used Skype.

Duncan Bould, defending, said Roberts described being engaged in some kind of “fantasy.” Counsel said he was “deeply remorseful.

“He feels acutely the embarrassment he’s brought on his wife. He takes very seriously the circumstances he is in,” Mr Bould declared. Roberts had sought help.

Judge Rees said his offending had been “persistent and entrenched”. He was currently suspended from work by the local authority.