A 32 year-old Lancaster University student described as a "brilliant man" had hundreds of pornographic images of children on his computer, a court has heard.

David Ringwood, who is studying for a PhD at the university, admitted 15 charges of making indecent photographs of a child and asked for 733 similar cases to be taken into consideration.

The court was told that the offences came to light when a concerned mother contacted police after Ringwood had taken video footage of children on the pretext it was for advertising.

Mr David Pickup, prosecuting, told the court an examination of Ringwood's computer system revealed 814 still images and 101 moving images of which 43 involved children. The images had been downloaded and saved.

When interviewed, Ringwood said his motive was a sexual one for his own gratification.

He told police he had been abused as a child and wanted to be abused again.

Mr Kevin Talbot, defending Ringwood said: "He seems to regard himself as stuck in a timewarp. In sexual and emotional terms he is still a child victim of his past sexual abuse."

He said Ringwood had seven "A" levels and was a successful banker.

Before he was 30, Ringwood had a nervous breakdown and embarked on an academic career and was presently doing a PhD in cognitive linguistics. "He is a brilliant man," said Mr Talbot.

Recorder Richard Henriques QC told Ringwood: "You are almost certainly the most intelligent man in court yet you are the one in the dock. The tragedy was you enjoy looking at material most human beings find repulsive."

An order was made for the forfeiture of the computer worth £1,100.

Ringwood was subsequently placed on probation by Chorley magistrates for two years and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years for possessing indecent photographs.

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