A retired paramedic who downloaded child sex images has been spared prison.

Roger Clegg, 75, was found with hundreds of photos - including some of children being raped - on a computer at his home in Gilchrist Avenue, Greenhill.

It is the second time the former medic, who claims to be suffering from PTSD because of his work, has been convicted of having illegal sex images.

But his lawyer Ian Bond asked Judge Rupert Lowe not to send Clegg straight to prison as he is currently undergoing treatment for skin cancer.

Clegg pleaded guilty to five downloading offences.

Mr Bond told Canterbury Crown Court that Clegg left his job on health grounds in 1999.

The judge suspended a 15-month jail sentence for two years and told Clegg he had lied to probation about his addiction.

Analysis of his computer showed he was searching for images of real children being abused.

Clegg, who was also fined £200, asked to address the judge after sentence but was told he could not.