A PERVERT who wrote online about his fantasy of raping his dead daughter has been branded "sick" by a judge.

Unemployed Ian Woodward had the conversation with strangers in a chat room around four years after his 23-year-old daughter died.

Woodward, 54, of Big Tree Close, Compton Bishop, near Axbridge, was given a three-year community order at Taunton Crown Court for three counts of possessing indecent photos of a total of 12 children.

Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, told the court he was reported to police following a tip off from American authorities.

She added that Woodward described his fantasy of the rape of his daughter after his interest in the topic was sparked by disabled adults at a charity where he used to work.

Harry Ahuja, defending, said his client had made a full admission and conceded that he has a problem and is disgusted by his behaviour.

He said Woodward had been his daughter's carer since she was six as she suffered from cystic fibrosis and that the couple had enjoyed a "very good, close relationship".

Mr Ahuja said Woodward had been hard hit by a number of deaths in his family in a relatively short period.

Referring to Woodward's rape fantasy, Judge David Ticehurst said: "What sort of a sick individual wants to even enter into such sick discussions?

"It shows an insight into the sort of man he is."

The judge added: "He has a deviant sexual pre-occupation with pre-pubescent children

"Everyone in this courtroom and who reads about it will be disgusted at such deprived conduct.

"If it weren't for people like you, these children wouldn't be abused. The market exists because of people like you."

As well as the community order, Woodward was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, as well as being told to pay £200 costs and an £85 statutory charge.