A man has pleaded guilty to possessing animal porn.

Nicolas Penfold, 46, of Easthill Drive, Portslade, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court and admitted having 477 bestiality images on his laptop.

Magistrates said the offence was so serious he needed to be sentenced at crown court.

The court heard police found the images after raiding his home.

Chris Bull, prosecuting, said the images involved women and animals.

The still and moving images were found on Penfold’s laptop seized from the defendant’s premises.

In a police interview he said that he viewed them out of curiosity.

Penfold, who was representing himself, said: “I look after my mother and I support her financially.”

Penfold, of Easthill Drive, Portslade, Brighton, pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornographic images portraying acts with animals.

Chairman of magistrates Roger Case said: “We have read a report about you, also a summary of the offence in which you had 477 extreme

porn images in your possession.

“We feel our sentencing powers are inadequate to deal with this so we will send you to crown court for sentencing.”

Penfold is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court on May 31.