DISTRESSING sexual images of children as young as four were found on a USB after an isolated man showed a barmaid a video of a young girl being raped on his laptop.

Michael Tatham, formerly of Mulberry Way, Theale, has been left homeless after he was found with more than 1,300 indecent images of children and disowned by his family.

The 39-year-old narrowly avoided jail after admitting to being in possession of 100 images of the most serious kind and five videos of children being sexually assaulted.

Police were contacted by a barmaid from a pub in Theale after the defendant showed her a horrific video of a girl called Emily being abused.

Jonathan Sank, prosecuting at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, August 1, said: "During his conversation with the landlady, he opened his laptop and and started playing a video which took her by surprise.

"It was a horrific film involving adult males and young children between the ages of six and eight.

"During the course of playing it he pointed at one of the young girls and said 'this is Emily, isn't she lovely, look they are enjoying it.'"

The barmaid contacted police and when he was arrested a USB with hundreds of images was in his clenched fist.

The defence, mitigating, said Tatham was seeking help for alcoholism and depression.

Judge Johanna Cutts, concluded: "Young children as young as four have been sexually assaulted for the gratification of people like you.

"If it was not for people like you these types of images and abuse would not be a problem.

"There is an awful lot wrong with your life and I hope you will used this chance to make sure nothing like this happens again."

Tatham admitted to possessing more than 100 indecent images of children of Category A and Category B and a further 1,100 images of Category C.

He received a sentence of 12 months, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, 50 days of rehabilitation and was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.