A FORMER IT technician at a Somerset college was caught with nearly 200 images of child pornography after a colleague spotted him posting sexual comments on Twitter. 

Police found that Sean McMenamin, 27, of St Augustines Road, had downloaded 192 indecent images of children on his computer and other hardware after obtaining a warrant following the tip off from his colleague.

McMenamin was sentenced today at Taunton Crown Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing at Taunton Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Emmi Wilson said: "A colleague who worked with Mr McMenamin in the IT department at Somerset College saw that the defendant had posted inappropriate comments of a sexual nature on Twitter.

"The colleague informed the police who obtained a warrant to search Mr McMenamin's computer and hardware."

The police found a total of 192 indecent images, 53 of which were classed as a category A, 17 as catergory B and 122 as category C.

Defending, Ms Cavaners said that McMenamin was a young man of previously good character who admitted the charges at Taunton Magistrates Court at the first opportunity.

Sentencing, Recorder Peter Towler said: "At the age of 27 you find yourself awaiting sentence in court for the first time in your life.

"You pleaded guilty at Taunton Magistrates Court to possessing indecent images of children.

"The sentencing guidelines suggest an immediate prison sentence however I do not consider that to be appropriate in this case."

Recorder Towler said the pre-sentence report advised that McMenamin would benefit from participating in a rehabilatative course, however because the guidelines suggest a one year custodial sentence and the defendant would be given full credit for an early guilty plea - it is unlikely he would serve long enough to complete the course.

"So for these reasons I am going to give you a 36 month community order," Recorder Towler said.

"You will take the accredited programme for internet sex offenders of 60 sessions and during that period you will have regular meetings with the probation officer.

"I must tell you that if you do not attend these probation meetings or behave in an unacceptable way then you could be brought before this court again and that could end in you going to prison."

Recorder Towler also handed McMenamin a sexual harm prevention order in which he was ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 16 unless unavoidable in daily life or with supervision and the consent of the child's parents provided they were aware of the order and why it was given.

McMenamin was put on the sex offenders register for five years and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.