by Julia Roberts

A pervert who used his neighbour's Internet account to download "horrendous" images of child abuse has been jailed.

One movie clip viewed by 47-year-old Neil Beckley lasted more than three hours. It depicted, with sound, a teenage girl bound to a bed by her neck, wrists and ankles and being subjected to degrading sexual abuse.

Jailing Beckley today, Judge Philip St.John-Stevens said it was clear that the victim was "petrified" as she looked at her abuser and the camera.

He added that movie clips were also now becoming more prevalent than still images.

"If people did not watch images, purchase or view them there would not be a market for such films," remarked the judge.

Beckley, of Princes Avenue, Walderslade, pleaded guilty to eight charges of possessing indecent images of children and five offences of making indecent images between November 2004 and September last year.

A total of 155 images were found, some categorised as being of the most serious level - level five - which can depict sadism and bestiality.

Maidstone Crown Court heard police raided a house in Herbert Road, Chatham, after receiving information that an Internet account at that address had been used to download indecent images.

However, it transpired that a user of that account lived next door. Prosecutor Anne Phillips said Beckley had approached the tenant when she moved in, offering her £70 a year to install an extension to her telephone line to enable him to share the broadband connection.

"She wasn't initially happy but after talking to the defendant she agreed," explained Mrs Phillips.

Following his arrest Beckley, a kitchen fitter, told police he initially searched for teenage material but had inadvertently downloaded other images.

"He said his target age was 12 to 13-year-old females," added Mrs Phillips. "He said he found that particularly attractive and had been looking at the images for about a year, once or twice a week."

At the time of the raid, police also discovered a cannabis factory in Beckley's basement. There were 64 plants as well as evidence of leaves being picked and bagged.

Beckley admitted producing cannabis for his own use and was jailed for a further four months consecutive - making a total of 14 months' imprisonment.

Simon Wickens, defending, agreed that the three hour movie clip was "harrowing and horrendous", but said a "childhood event" may have been the underlying reason for Beckley's interest in the images.

Beckley was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for 15 years, and must sign on the sex offenders' register.