A MIDDLE-AGED businessman who took photos and videos of naked schoolgirls for sexual kicks was today beginning a 15-month jail sentence.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Robert Enright, 44, took the pictures at his Brierfield workshop (pictured) and at Pendle and used his computer and digital camera to help produce his collection.

The defendant, who rubbed oil on the back of one girl and wrapped his arms around her naked body, also downloaded pornography from the Internet, but when interviewed by police he claimed his pictures were capturing the girls' innocence and not for sexual reward. Sentencing Enright, who has no previous convictions, Judge Raymond Bennett said any parent would be appalled to think to think their own child was in the company of somebody the defendant's age and being photographed without any clothes on.

Enright, of Roselands Avenue, Brierfield, admitted one count of indecent assault, 11 of taking indecent photographs of children and one charge of making indecent photographs of children. He was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Bernard Leaver, prosecuting, said the defendant took indecent photographs at his workshop in Brierfield and at Pendle Water. As he took pictures of one 10 year old he told her he knew she wanted to be a model. Mr Leaver said one of the girls photographed by Enright was seven years old. A young teenager claimed how girls did not want their pictures taken, but Enright forced them to.

He said Enright used his computer and digital camera in commiting the offences and when he was arrested, claimed he had come from an open family where people walked around with no clothes on. Indecent material was seized after police searched his home.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Enright, who had spent six and a half months in custody, had found his time on remand very hard and was a shadow of his former self and looked like one.

He had pleaded guilty to all the allegations the prosecution had brought against him, saving the girls having to come to court and give evidence. He accepted the indecent photos were taken by him to a large extent, but some were taken by the girls themselves.

Mr Baldwin told the court the material taken from the Internet was vile and disgusting, but the photographs taken by the defendant were nothing like that. At the beginning, Enright had deluded himself that the pictures could not be properly described as indecent but were capturing the complainants' innocence, but that had not been persisted with.

Mr Baldwin said the defendant had had complex and serious difficulties when much younger. He regretted what he had done and realised he needed treatment. He had learned a very hard lesson and was attending a weekly session with a high psychological content. He found that a very great help in coming to terms with problems that were very deep seated.

There was a lot of work to be done and the question was whether that work could be started in custody or under a rigorous probation order.

Mr Baldwin added Enright had earlier been to see his own doctor with regard to counselling over the problems he recognised he had and has. The punishment aspect of custody had already been served.

He said the defendant's partner was supporting him and Enright hoped to start his business again on his release from prison.