A MENTAL health nurse who was put on the sex offenders register for downloading child porn has been allowed to stay in the profession.

Steven Royle, 43, who worked for Lancashire Care NHS Trust, was given a police caution after officers paid a visit to his home in 2003.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council heard that the father-of-two from Nelson was caught out following a police crackdown on the USA website, called Landslide, which was subsequently closed down.

Officers from Colne police station found four indecent images on his computer and on January 27 2003 he was cautioned and put on the sex offenders register for five years.

The NMC panel allowed Royle to continue working as nurse but imposed a conditions of practice order' on his registration.

Panel chair Rachel O'Connell said: "We accept that since the offending behaviour occurred on the registrant's home computer, there is no evidence that the registrant's behaviour would have caused direct or indirect patient harm."

Royle is free to continue working as a mental health nurse but must inform all future employers of the NMC ruling of misconduct and conditions of practice against him.

Sarah Page, for the NMC, said that Royle's computer and computer software were seized and he was arrested and interviewed.

As soon as the PC was switched on officers found a picture of two children and a naked man entitled real mums and sons incest'.

Royle, who worked for the Lancashire Care NHS Trust from 1997 to June 2003, denied knowledge of the website.

Royle's collection included two pictures classed as level one' and two more of the level three' category depicticting non penetrative sexual activity' between an adult and a child.

His computer files showed he had been downloading and repeatedly viewing the images throughout 2002.

Ms Page added: "The evidence suggests Mr Royle was accessing or interested in this type of material for a number of years."

Defence counsel Basil Dearing said: "At the time of his arrest he was employed within the Trust but as a result he fell to pieces and went off work through ill health suffering from stress."

Royle was suspended from the trust following the discovery and later sacked for gross misconduct.

He was then employed at Willowbank Care Home, Burnley, where he has worked ever since.

Mr Dearing added: "People have never had any reason to suspect that he might have illicit feelings towards children.

"He has never admitted to anyone anything other than looking at images."

Mr Dearing went on to say social services had investigated Royle's family situation following the caution and were happy' his children were safe.

Philippa Williamson, regional manager of Willowbank Care Homes, said Royle had been allowed to continue as a registered nurse, but with supervision conditions in place.

He will remain on the sex offenders register until January 2008.