A pensioner has been jailed for a year after he admitted downloading child porn.

Donald Smallwood, 77, admitted a count of possessing pornographic images.

Two charges of possessing extreme pornographic images will remain on file.

Detective Inspector Ali Eaton said: “For every indecent image of a child online there is a victim. In downloading these images, including at the highest level of indecency, Smallwood has actively played a part in perpetuating the abuse and exploitation of children.

“The internet is not a space of anonymity. If you choose to download a child abuse image, it could be traced back to you by police, as it was with Smallwood.”

Smallwood, of Wyvern Place, Warnham, Horsham, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.

He was also made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for an indefinite period and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten months.