A Stapleton man who compiled a vast collection of child pornography has walked free from court.

Homosexual Paul Skuse, 43, of Curlew Close, Stapleton secretly kept hundreds of images of boys on discs at home.

His store of 423 images and 31 movies, which he had kept hidden from his gay lover, was discovered by police when they searched his home on February 21 last year.

He was emailed the images by people he confided to about his sexual problems on internet chat rooms.

Skuse later pleaded guilty to 24 charges of making indecent photographs of children and one charge of possessing indecent photographs of children.

He was handed a three-year community order with a programme requirement and was ordered to pay £720 costs at Bristol Crown Court.

He will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years.

Julian Howells, prosecuting, said officers seized the defendant's computer tower and seven floppy discs from his office at his Curlew Close home and discovered the lewd images of young boys.

Mr Howells said: "The defendant was interviewed. He said the images came to him via chat lines which he entered because he felt the need to speak about being gay."

He said the defendant told police he was more interested in boys aged 13 and 14 rather than much younger ones.

Virginia Cornwall, defending, said her client was a man of 43 still struggling with his identity. He was embarrassed and humiliated about what he had done and had sought counselling following his arrest.