Maidstone Crown Court, where Donoghue's case was heard

by Keith Hunt

A pervert physiotherapist kept films and pictures of him and a woman engaging in sex acts with animals and also downloaded hundreds of child abuse images, a court heard.

The bestiality clips and photos, involving a labrador retriever and horses, dated back several years when such pornography was not illegal.

They were discovered after police raided Anthony Donoghue’s home at Sturmer Court in Kings Hill - along with more than 1,400 child sex abuse images.

Jailing the 54-year-old father for eight months, a judge branded the animal films as “really quite remarkably nasty”.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC added: “They were not criminal when made in 2004 but they are extraordinarily degrading and they were kept for no intelligible reason.”

Donoghue, now of Crawley, West Sussex, admitted six charges of possessing indecent photos of children, two of making them, one of distributing and one of possessing extreme pornography.

"he is an intelligent man. he appears to have lost everything" – jan hayne, defending

Maidstone Crown Court heard how using the name Peter Adams, he in March last year was in contact with a man on a gay website and arranged to meet him and “some other pervy mates”.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting, said Donoghue sent the other man pictures of adults engaging in sex or “extreme activity”. He also sent one of a child aged five or six who he claimed he knew.

“He felt uncomfortable about what he had been sent and called the police,” said Miss Todd.

Officers went to Donoghue’s home on March 23 last year and arrested him. Computers, a camcorder and video tapes were seized. There were 66 extreme images.

Jan Hayne, defending, said Donoghue had been frank about his offending and sought treatment.

“What was not at the root of his offending was high risk sexual behaviour,” she said. “He would not behave in that manner again. He is essentially a good man."

Miss Hayne said the majority of the images had been deleted and there were only 64 “live” pictures.

Submitting a suspended sentence could be imposed, she added: “He is an intelligent man. He appears to have lost everything.”

Judge Macdonald said sex acts with horses in a field at night took place as a precursor to sex with his female partner.

“You have lost your job,” he told Donoghue. “There is nothing which will lead me to suspend the sentence.”

Donoghue’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.