A HOSPITAL worker passed on a computer disc containing erotic images of young children and adult pornography to work colleagues, a court heard.

Blackburn magistrates were told other members of the adult porn exchange group at Calderstones Hospital, Whalley, were horrified when they found the pictures of children and immediately called in the police.

But Carl Gaffney, defending, said there had never been any suggestion that Anthony Paul Johnson, 51, had acted for profit or as part of a paedophile ring.

Johnson, of The Copse, Accrington, pleaded guilty to seven charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and seven charges of distributing the same photographs. The magistrates ordered the preparation of pre-sentence reports and Johnson was remanded on bail until February 2.

He had worked at the medium secure unit for only a few weeks. He was suspended when the investigation came to light and dismissed last April.

Joanne Shahzada, prosecuting, said it was accepted that the pictures which were passed to the adult porn ring were on level one of the five levels identified in similar cases.

They consist of erotic posing with no sexual activity, said Miss Shahzada.

"There is also no suggestion that he has made this CD, simply that it was in his possession and he was distributing it."

The charges date back to April and the case had been set down for trial until Johnson, who has no previous convictions, changed his plea on the day. Mr Gaffney said that had come about because Johnson had simply buried his head in the sand, hoping the matter would go away.

Mr Gaffney said there had been a conversation between workmates who had exchanged adult material and Johnson had declared that he had something they could have.

"It was one disc containing seven pictures of children which, when viewed alongside the other adult material, would obviously cause concern", said Mr Gaffney.

"Had my client realised he was committing an offence he would not have handed this disc over so openly."

Mr Gaffney said there was no suggestion that there had been any internet trawling because checks had been carried out.

"The first reaction is one of repulsion and revulsion but it is fair to say this is very much at the lower end of the scale, on the first tier of the five the court can consider", said Mr Gaffney.

"My client wants to say how sorry and ashamed he is of all this."