POLICE who seized a computer and discs belonging to Stewart Hannah discovered more than 30,000 pornographic images of young girls.

Blackburn magistrates heard the sordid collection found in a raid on his home included 30 images classified as 'level five' which feature sadism or bestiality causing pain to an individual.

More than 300 were of the next level down and many of the images were of girls under the age of 10.

Hannah, 46, who works as a product packing manager for Express Gifts in Accrington, pleaded guilty to 45 specimen charges of possession and making of indecent photographs of children.

He was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence after district judge Paul Firth ruled that his powers of sentence were inadequate.

Neil White, prosecuting, said that while 45 specimen charges had been laid, more than 30,000 images had been discovered by police who raided Hannah's home.

As well as the level 4 and 5 images there were 860 level three, 3,256 level two and over 25,000 level one.

He said random samples of the images showed numerous images featuring girls under 10 years of age and there were also two video clips -- one at level five and one at level four.

David Lawson, defending, said Hannah, of New Hall Street, Nelson, who is married, with children aged 16 and 14, said his client had made a full and frank admission to police as soon as he was questioned.

"That is unusual in my submission," said Mr Lawson. "Quite often people facing these charges seek to wriggle out of blame and present an explanation that ultimately doesn't stand up in court."

Mr Lawson said that a pre-sentence report produced by the probation service showed a high degree of 'candour' by Hannah.

"He fully accepts that he needs to deal with his problem which he describes as an addiction, something that got out of control," said Mr Lawson.

"He recognises that he needs treatment and is willing to undertake whatever is necessary."

Sending the case to a higher court for sentencing district judge Paul Firth said there was no suggestion of distribution.

"All the evidence is that the activity he undertook was so private that even his wife and children were not aware of what was going on," said Mr Firth.

"There is certainly no evidence that he made any gain from these images or that he was party to their making in the early stage of production.

"Against that I have to look at the number and nature of the images he has either made or possessed and I have come to the conclusion that my sentencing powers are not adequate," he added.