A MAN who had almost 3,000 indecent images of children on his computer will be sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.

Nigel Ghent, 49, pleaded guilty to seven charges of making and distributing the images when he appeared before Island magistrates last Friday.

He admitted three counts of making 2,735 indecent images of children, between January 2012 and January 2019, three counts of distributing indecent images of children, between February and December 2017, and one count of offering to exchange indecent images of children, between May 2016 and March 2018.

Prosecutor Vivian Ducie said: "The seriousness of this case is clearly in excess of the powers of this court and this must be sent up to the crown court.

"It's just an enormous shame that these matters, going back as far as 2017, can only be brought before the court now."

Henry Farley, defending said: "I had no doubt he would be sentenced in the crown court."

Ghent, of Market Street, Ventnor, is due to be sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on December 21.

UPDATE 11.23am: Although a Newport address was given on the court list, the defendant actually lives in Ventnor. This information was given to the court, and the article has been amended accordingly.

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