by Julia Roberts

A removal firm boss who downloaded dozens of pornographic images of children while suffering from stress is to help other convicted sex offenders to understand their crimes, a court heard.

Norman Barker, 57, has been asked by child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to give presentations to abusers after he successfully attended one of its intensive courses while awaiting sentence.

The foundation was established in 1993 with the aim of reducing the risk of children being sexually abused. It deals with both male and female offenders.

Maidstone Crown Court was told that Barker has been asked by the charity to give talks. “It shows he is clearly trying to combat and address what happened,” said defence counsel Caroline Harris.

“He fully understands and accepts that it (downloading indecent images) does cause devastation to people’s lives.”

Barker, of Millfield Road, West Kingsdown, admitted 10 offences of possessing indecent photographs of children and eight of making indecent photographs.

The images, which ranged across all levels of seriousness, were found on his Netbook computer at his home in September last year. There were a total of 190 images, including three movie clips.

Prosecutor Anne Phillips said Barker initially told police he had downloaded the material out of curiosity.

Imposing a jail term of 18 weeks suspended for 18 months, Judge Charles Macdonad QC said there was “a good deal of mitigation”, including Barker’s previous good character and genuine remorse.

“It was an isolated incident targeted by stress,” he added, “and the images were deleted the next day.”

Barker must carry out 100 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £250 court costs. He also has to sign on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.