A man who viewed indecent images of children while at work has been given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, by Ipswich magistrates.

Joseph Greenhow, of Highfield, Clare, near Sudbury, was also made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

The 33-year-old had previously admitted three charges of making indecent images of children between December 11 and February 23.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said police went to Greenhow’s place of work in Glemsford after receiving information that someone at the address was downloading illegal images. Greenhow, his wife and his employer were present.

During a subsequent police interview Greenhow admitted it was him who had downloaded the images on his work computer.

He told an officer he has stumbled across images from a file sharing site and felt compelled to continue downloading them. Greenhow said he had been doing it for about a year.

The court heard Greenhow would do it two to three times a week during his lunch breaks.

A file sharing programme was also used.

Mrs Harper said Greenhow would view the images, delete them and then delete them from the computer’s history.

He installed software on which he would run a full deletion programme in the hope of erasing the information entirely.

The Dell tower unit police seized had three Level B images and a Level B movie on it. It also had a Level A movie. Level A is the most serious grading of child pornography.

Russell Robinson, representing Greenhow, said what had clearly happened was that on occasion against a backdrop of poor mental health his client had “dipped in and out” of the site where he got the images.

The court was told Greenhow had deleted the images because they interfered with the running of his machine, slowing it down.

Mr Robinson said his client was previously of good character and added: “He is now convicted of unpleasant offences that will haunt him and mark his record for some considerable time to come. His remorse is genuine.”

As part of his sentence Greenhow must take part in a 60-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Greenhow was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 to the victims’ fund.