A man who claims he downloaded child porn for research and not sexual gratification, is awaiting sentence.
Burnley Crown Court heard how Gerard Hayslop, 25, downloaded the haul, some at the most serious levels, in the early hours at his mother's home.
He claimed a girl had told him she had been abused and she wanted to know whether the images taken of her were available on the Internet.
Judge Christopher Cornwall described the defendant's explanation as "extraordinarily improbable" and said he may have to hear evidence.
Hayslop, of Harold Street, Burnley, admitted 20 counts of making an indecent photo of a child. Louise Howarth-Lee, 18, also of Harold Street, denied the allegations and the charges against her were ordered to lie on the file. She has no criminal convictions.
Hayslop was bailed until May 25, for a pre-sentence report and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.
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