A FORMER chair of Harlow Council has escaped jail after pleading guilty to downloading images of child abuse.

Ian Jackson, aged 64, of Greenhills, Harlow, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday morning.

The court heard that Essex Police had received “computer-based intelligence” regarding images and a specific IP address.

They executed a warrant at Jacksons address in Greenhills on December 19th, 2015.

On being arrested, he said to his wife (who was in attendance at court) that “There may be some images on my computer.”

He made a similar unsolicited comment whilst being conveyed by the police.

On examination, it was found that the terms “Rape”, “Under-age sex” and “Pre-teen sex” had been entered into the search engines of Jackson’s computers.

The age of children in the images of abuse ranged from 4-16 years.

Upon interview, Jackson made no comment but he later pled guilty to the following.

Between January 1st, 2012 and December 20th, 2015, in Harlow made indecent photographs of children, namely 4 x Cat A indecent still images of children.

Between January 1st, 2012 and December 20th, 2015, in Harlow made indecent photographs of children namely 4 x Cat B indecent still images of children.

On 19th December 2015 at Harlow possessed 110 extreme pornographic images, which portrayed, in an explicit and realistic way, a person performing an act of intercourse on animals, namely dogs, and which was grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character.

Defending solicitor, Mr Sharma detailed that Jackson had a hitherto impeccable record and character.

Jackson was a Lib Dem councillor for a number of years and last stood for election in 2015. He was chair of Harlow Council between 2004 and 2005.

He has also fulfilled a number of community roles around Harlow including being a member of St Johns Ambulance.

He was also a member of Harlow Hospital Radio for thirty years, where he was in charge of their IT.

Mr Sharma said: “He has now given up all these roles. He has also left his employment as a Telecomms Engineer.”

Mr Sharma also made reference to a history of depression. He stated that Jackson’s wife and daughter were standing by him.

Sentencing Jackson to eighteen months in prison but suspended for two years,Judge Morgan said:”By viewing these images you are perpetrating the abuse of children.”

He was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and had costs of £220 imposed.

He also sentenced Jackson to a Rehabilitation Awareness Requirement for forty days in order to “Try and get to the bottom of why you did this.”

Jackson smiled in the dock and said thank you to the judge.