A BURNLEY nurse caught in possession of child and extreme porn has been warned by a judge that he could face a prison sentence.

Locum David Hartley Haigh, 52, admitted three allegations of making an indecent photograph of a child between August and October 2012.

Five videos were graded at level four, the second-most serious category, another two videos were said to be at level two and a further 56 videos at level one, Burnley Crown Court heard.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornography – 12 pictures involving sex with animals – between the same dates.

Haigh, of Brunshaw Road, was bailed until May 9, for a pre- sentence report.

Under conditions of bail he must not contact named individuals, not have any unsupervised contact with any child under 16 and must live at his home address.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Adjourning the case, Judge Beverley Lunt warned Haigh: “These are serious matters.

“All sentences, including prison, will be considered.”

Haigh has been suspended by his professional watchdog, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) since his employer, Pulse Staffing Ltd, reported the matter to it in November 2012. The nurse had told his bosses about his arrest four days earlier.

He was charged by Lancashire Police late last year and made his first appearance before Burnley magistrates on Christmas Eve.

The NMC’s interim orders panel, sitting at the Old Bailey in London, has suspended his registration for 12 months, pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.