A FORMER police worker was yesterday (Wednesday) handed a six month prison sentence for possessing more than 110,000 child porn and bestiality images.

Nicholas White, of Old North Road, Royston, worked for Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a communications officer in a unit overseen by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

He had previously pleaded guilty to 22 counts of making and possessing indecent images at Cambridge Crown Court, where he also received his sentence.

As well as the prison term White is now subject to a sex offenders prevention order for seven years and has been placed on the sex offenders register for the same period.

All of his computer equipment will be destroyed and the 27-year-old has been indefinitely banned from working with children.

White was caught with 102 level five images of children – the most depraved category.

Officers also uncovered more than 3,000 other pornographic images of under-16s on an external hard drive during the search on January 18 last year.

White was also found to be in possession of a total of 781 indecent movies featuring children, nine of which were rated level five.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing ten images of bestiality.

Speaking after yesterday’s verdict, Detective Constable Archie Bagworth, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s paedophile investigation unit, said: “Today’s sentence shows the severity of his actions and how seriously the courts and law takes offences such as this.

“The sentence passed today should act as a deterrent to those who view or possess such images. You will be caught and you will be brought before the courts.”

Yesterday’s sentencing had been pushed back due to the compiling of psychological reports.

In a previous hearing his lawyer Nerida Harford-Bell said her client was so full of self-loathing he had referred himself to a doctor.

She said: “This man is very isolated and in this isolation this addiction has grown since his mid-teens.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed he had been hired by the force in 2008, carrying out work for the ACPO until he resigned in February last year.

The force said White’s resignation as a communications officer came after his arrest and subsequent suspension.

A force spokesman said: “Nicholas White was employed by Cambridgeshire Constabulary from June 2008 to his resignation on February 24, 2011, following his arrest and suspension the month before. He worked for a national unit which came under ACPO TAM (Terrorism and Associated Matters).

“All applications for employment with the constabulary are subject to rigorous checks and vetting, including the examination of criminal records and employment history. Any allegations against employees are fully investigated and disciplinary action and, if necessary, criminal proceedings will be instigated if appropriate.”