SOCIAL workers will be given counselling after it emerged that a child protection officer had a secret addiction to child pornography.

Child protection social worker Jonathan Ward of Miles Walk, Hove was found to have more than 100 indecent images of children on his computers.

Ward, 46, worked for the child protection unit at Brighton and Hove City Council before moving to Surrey County Council when police found the images on his home computer after a tip off.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Jonathan Ward was a social worker with Brighton & Hove City Council from 1999-2015.

“We have held an internal review and have found that Mr Ward had a clear employment record with no complaint or concern raised against him during this time.

“We have made our staff aware of this case.

“Many of them worked with Mr Ward and are understandably shocked and saddened by it.

“We have offered our staff support and counselling."

Ward admitted six charges of downloading images of children and was given a seven month suspended prison sentence at Hove Crown Court.

His honour Judge Paul Tain told Ward: “We take the view that people who support the degradation of children through downloading images participate in the crime and participate in the abuse.”

Police traced an IP address to Ward and his computers and phones were seized and he was arrested in December.

Two laptops found at his home contained more than 100 images of children, many in the most serious category.

A carrier bag was also found at his home containing girls' knickers and a stash of pornographic DVDs.

He told police he was addicted to pornography.

He was also ordered to do a 30 rehabilitation course, 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £340 costs.

Judge Tain also granted a Sexual Harm Prevention order severely limiting his internet use and contact with children for the next five years.

Ward made no comment as he left court.

The council spokesman added: “We are shocked and saddened by this case.

“We would like to emphasise that the offences took place at his home address and are not connected with his employment with us.

“Downloading such images perpetuates and stimulates in sexual offenders the abuse of children and the taking of such photos."