A FORMER Odiham pensioner has been handed a suspended sentence after he admitted possessing more than 1,000 indecent images and videos of children aged between one and 14.

David Reid, 74, used Facebook Messenger to share his fantasies of sexually abusing schoolgirls and had 98 still and 39 moving images deemed to be in the most serious category, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Mr Reid, who lived in Odiham when he was arrested, was given a two-year sentence, suspended for two years.

Officers discovered encryption-protected indecent images on his computer, a back-up hard drive and mobile phone, the court heard.

Mr Reid had also emailed images to fellow paedophiles and discussed with them a fantasy he had of abusing a child, the prosecution said.

The BBC reported that he had lived near his daughter’s old school and said there were “still plenty of teenage girls passing by his window”.

Mr Reid admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, as well as possessing and distributing images, and sending an offensive communication.

His defence highlighted that he had admitted the offences during his first police interview and while he acknowledged he was attracted to schoolgirls he had never acted on his urges.

Judge Susan Evans said Mr Reid was considered to be at low risk of reoffending and would be better rehabilitated outside of prison. He has since moved to Chichester.