A ‘SUICIDAL’ teenager looked at indecent images of children out of ‘sick curiosity’ but was disgusted with what he saw, a court heard.

Harry Brotherton admitted making indecent images of children when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

The 19-year-old had 66 such images at category A, the most serious bracket which shows penetrative sexual activity involving children.

He also had 71 images at category B and 211 at category C. No descriptions of the images were available.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said the offences took place over a relatively short period of time between July 8 and July 31 last year when Brotherton accessed the dark web.

He said: “This came to light as a result of the defendant being referred to the crisis team by his GP as a result of suicidal thoughts.”

The court heard how Brotherton made the disclosure about the images to a Worcester-based occupational therapist.

“He did disclose that he had been downloading photographs of children on the dark web,” said Mr Conry

His computer was seized and he was arrested.

The prosecutor said: “It’s right to say he was candid in interview.”

Brotherton told police he was unaware there had been quite so many images, thinking there were between eight and 10.

“He said at the time his mental health was not good at all. He wanted to kill himself. He was in a bad place,” said Mr Conry.

Brotherton also said the images ‘disgusted him and he didn’t want to think about them’.

“He said he was very ill and using alcohol and drugs at the time. He wasn’t taking his medication. He felt low and suicidal,” said Mr Conry.

Michael Aspinall, defending, said: “What he saw made him quite ill - going onto the site was just sick curiosity. He’s over that. He has a job at the moment. He will lose that job because of that conviction.”

Brotherton was of previous good character. The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the devices on which the images were found, including a computer and a mobile phone.

Recorder John Steel QC also made a sexual harm prevention order. Brotherton must sign the sex offender’s register for seven years.

Brotherton of Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, was made subject to a two year community order. The defendant must complete an accredited sex offender’s behaviour programme, 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Brotherton was ordered to pay a £100 contribution towards the £340 requested by the prosecution.