by Lynn Cox

A software engineer obsessed with looking at adult pornography has admitted having images of cartoon characters having sex with child characters.

Ian Battson, 34, pleaded guilty to possessing 551 such images, which showed adult characters having sex with young characters such as those from popular TV series The Simpsons.

Battson, who apparently became obsessed with searching for adult porn on the internet, was found with the images on his computer when police raided his home in Chatham.

Battson had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence at Medway Magistrates’ Court and his sentence had been adjourned.

This week District Judge Michael Kelly was told Battson, of Fort Pitt Street, Chatham, had accidentally uploaded the cartoon images, which were ruled illegal to own in 2010, when he uploaded pornographic pictures.

Some of the prohibited images also contained Japanese Manga cartoon characters depicting similar sexual scenarios.

When police examined the search history on his computer they found Battson had never tried to search for indecent images of children, however, detectives found he had accidently downloaded a few indecent images of children, but had deleted them.

He was never charged with being in possession of indecent images of children.

"he has an obsession with fantasy and erotic art and animation and has learnt a very valuable lesson" – sarah alexander, defending, of battson

Matthew Quantrill, prosecuting, said: “He never got round to deleting the prohibited images and told police he does not have any sexual attachment for children.

“It was an accidental by-product of downloading pornography, he had not searched for them, he had some 300,000 images (of pornography), on his computer and had downloaded the cartoon images in 2008 and 2009.

“He said he knew some were there and but he never got round to deleting any of them.”

Battson, who is suffering from depression and lives on his own also has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). He started viewing pornography and exotic and fantasy art at the age of 18 and his obsession had developed from there.

Sacha Alexander, defending, said her client had co-operated fully with officers and was of previous good character.

She added: “In 2008 and 2009 it was not an offence then, but he admits possession now.

“He has an obsession with fantasy and erotic art and animation and has learnt a very valuable lesson.”

District Judge Kelly decided against giving Battson a sexual offences prevention order, as he didn’t pose a risk to the public.

He placed him on a 12-month community order which will involve him working with the probation service on his obsession with pornography, which would also involve counselling.

He said: “I order you have a year supervision and it is up to probation what that entails.

“You had a huge volume of stuff, you were a computer expert and should have known better.”

Battson was ordered to pay £85 court costs.