A PERVERTED former policeman has avoided jail despite being found with more than 1,000 of the most repulsive images of children on his computer.

Officers found the sordid images on Glenn Briggs’ computer which included vile pictures of children, an illegal cartoon and extreme pornography.

Briggs, 50, had denied four counts of downloading indecent images but was found guilty by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court.

At a sentencing hearing, Judge Emma Peters decided to spare Briggs an immediate custodial sentence for the offences which took place between 2013 and 2015.

She said: “What those images portray is child abuse and those who view them fuel the trade which causes children to be abused which is why the courts take such a dim view of cases like this.

“It is so prevalent now and it is awful so many children in the world are abused for the gratification of men like you.

“The police know when such images are being accessed and then comes the knock on the door which sees so many people find themselves in your position every day.

“They are all in a trade which is the abuse of children.

“You have lost your good character.

“You have been a proud working man throughout your life first as a policeman and then as an IT consultant but you are now set to lose your job.

“I would urge you to come to terms with the jury’s verdict and come to terms with what you have done.”

Briggs, of Cherry Tree Close, Halstead, was handed an 18-month prison term suspended for two years for his sordid collection which contained 1,000 category A images which are deemed the most serious.

He will also be made to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and be the subject of a 12-month supervision order.

Briggs will be on the sex offenders register for ten years and a sexual harm prevention order will be made against him.

The court heard he is set to lose his job at an IT firm as a result of the proceedings, and is being forced to sell his house to help pay off £40,000 worth of debt he has accrued.