A MENDLESHAM man is facing prison today after admitting 17 charges of making and possessing images of child pornography.Robert Maguire, 32, of Ducksen Road, Mendlesham was charged with the offences on January 20, following a lengthy investigation by Suffolk police.

A MENDLESHAM man is facing prison today after admitting 17 charges of making and possessing images of child pornography.

Robert Maguire, 32, of Ducksen Road, Mendlesham was charged with the offences on January 20, following a lengthy investigation by Suffolk police.

Appearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Tuesday he admitted 16 charges of making indecent images of children under 16 and one of possessing indecent images of children under 16.

The offences took place between January 16, 2006 and November 20, 2006.

Stephen Colman, prosecuting, said: “A warrant was executed at his address and his computer was recovered and analysed and a number of images of children, totalling 1,194, were uncovered.

“These are specimen charges and the general possession charge is intended to cover the rest.”

Child pornography is classed in five categories from one to five, with five being the most serious.

Mr Colman said Maguire possessed 940 images at level one, 40 at level two, 123 at level three, 86 at level four and five at level five.

Ian Duckworth, mitigating for Maguire, said: “This is very unusual as he brought himself to the attention of police and it is the only case I have heard of locally of this kind.

“Through his medical practitioner he made certain admissions knowing full well what the end result would be.

“All, bar four, of these images had been deleted.”

Mr Colman said the case was so serious it should be sent to crown court for sentencing.

Offenders in possession of a large number of images of child pornography at level four and five face between one and three years in prison.

Magistrates sent the case to Ipswich Crown Court for a date yet to be fixed.

Maguire was released on unconditional bail.