AN elderly pervert with health problems will spend Christmas behind bars for downloading child porn

David Fairfield’s lawyer had submitted that little would be achieved by passing a short prison sentence.

He said the 72-year-old pensioner could attend rigorous sex offender programmes under a three-year community rehabilitation order.

But a judge jailed Fairfield, of Wayfield Road, Chatham, for six months, saying he was in no doubt that a custodial sentence was justified.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Wayfield, said to be openly homosexual, downloaded 868 child porn images on his home computer in May and June.

He admitted 18 specimen charges of making indecent photographs of children and one of possessing them.

Dominic Webber, prosecuting, said Fairfield admitted viewing the material for his own gratification.

Fairfield was fined £50 in 1991 for exposing himself to an undercover police officer in woods.

Oliver Weech, defending, said 813 of the images were at the lowest level of one. There were 17 at level two, 19 at level three, 18 at level four and one at five, the highest level.

Mr Weech said Fairfield was disabled as a result of spinal injuries. He was unable to drive and effectively confined to his home.

"His contact with the outside world has come from the internet and newspapers," he said.

"He used the internet in a variety of ways. He has interests in gardening and breeding dogs."

Mr Weech said Fairfield had been openly homosexual all his life and had a long-standing partner.

"It is unfortunate he has found himself in this position," he said. "He has acted out of character."

Mr Recorder John McDonald, QC, said he had taken into account Fairfield’s age, ill-health, guilty pleas and remorse. He also took into account that the images were not made or distributed by Fairfield.

But he added: "On the other hand, these are very serious offences. The images involved real children, not pseudo figures. Some are as young as eight. The vice of these offences lies in the involvement of children in making these images."

Recorder McDonald said to protect the public from further harm, Fairfield would be banned from using a computer for five years. He was also disqualified from working with children.