A BIRCHWOOD man who tried to blame someone else for downloading more than 100 indecent images of children has been spared jail.

Maxwell Southgate, of Goldfinch Lane, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to possessing three category B images, 142 category C and 14 extreme pornographic images.

The 65-year-old had lied to a probation officer about who committed the offences and Judge David Aubrey, QC, said Southgate’s actions were ‘abominable’.

Sentencing, Judge Aubrey said: “This court was most unimpressed with what you said to the probation officer when you were first interviewed, seeking to blame another individual.

“You have accepted now that that was a lie. That was abominable behaviour by you.

“You intended to download and did download indecent images of children. This court has no doubt this was done for your own sexual gratification, as it was when you downloaded extreme pornography.

“You are perpetuating the abuse of vulnerable people. You need to recognise that is precisely what you were doing.”

The incidents took place between 2011 and May 2016.

But Southgate, who has ‘quite bad’ diabetes, was spared jail and handed a two-year suspended sentence, 35 days of rehabilitation activity and a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Aubrey said: “An immediate custodial sentence is not going to assist you in those issues that you undoubtedly have but don’t admit to having.

“When you next speak to a probation officer tell the truth and don’t lie.”