A DISABLED Isle of Wight man who uploaded indecent images of children as young as five years old — including video of some of the most depraved category — was spared immediate imprisonment by a crown court judge. 

Paul Anthony Battman, of Spring Gardens, Shanklin, admitted three charges of possessing indecent images of children, before Island magistrates, last month. 

The offences came to light during an investigation by the police's Internet Child Abuse Team.

The police executed a search warrant of his home on July 5, 2021, and seized his electronic devices.

They revealed Battman uploaded a indecent images of children via a KIK online account, under the pseudonym 'Paul Owen' — namely five Category A (the most serious kind), seven of Cat B and three of Cat C.

The images were uploaded between January 14 and March 15, 2021.

Battman, with no previous convictions, gave police a 'no comment' interview — but made it clear his wife and adult son had nothing to do with it, said Tim Devlin, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.

Of the Cat A images — which included video — the children in them were as young as five.

For Battman, Jim Osborne said his client has cerebral palsy.

"He is remorseful and empathises with the children who suffered from the pictures made," said Mr Osborne.

"He is saddened, ashamed and disgusted by what he did."

Mr Osborne said Battman contacted the organisation, Stop It Now, a confidential helpline for anyone with child sexual abuse concerns, to address his behaviour.

He also told the court Battman's offending behaviour began during Covid-19 lockdown.

"He was on the internet searching for other people to talk to about football and other normal things, because he was isolated. His son and wife were estranged at that time," said Mr Osborne. 

"He gradually progressed an interest in amateur pornography, which in turn progressed to indecent images of children."

After considering a report, the judge, Pushpinder Saini, told Battman the Cat A content was of "a most concerning nature", suspending a two-year jail term for 12 months.

Battman was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will sign the Sex Offenders' Register for five years.