A TEENAGER caught with pictures of children being sexually abused and exploited has been jailed.

Stephen Michael Davies, 19, of Ellesmere Port, was sent to a Young Offenders Institute for eight months.

He must be supervised by probation for three months after his release and also sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Davies, of Regent Street, must also hand his computer, CD ROM and floppy discs to Cheshire police.

He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent photos of a child between December 2002 and February 2003.

Davies also admitted possessing 149 indecent photos of a child on February 12, and possessing an indecent pseudo photo (video image) of a child, on the same date.

Chester Crown Court heard the images, which covered all levels of seriousness, were 'stark and horrible'.

Prosecutor Wynn Lloyd Jones said: 'On August 12, 2002, a Metropolitan Police officer saw that someone had been using the file-sharing network Kazaa the previous day.

'The user's details were requested and this led police to the defendant's address in Ellesmere Port.'

Cheshire police raided Davies' home at 7.45am on February 12 last year, under the Protection of Children Act, and seized his computer equipment.

Mr Lloyd Jones said: 'On it they found indecent images of children. Most were static, but four were moving video images.'

He outlined the different levels of seriousness with regard to pictures of this nature and added: 'Some of these files had been recently viewed and some were arranged in a manner that suggested Davies had sorted them into categories.

'Davies claimed a third party has used the computer in his bedroom, although he knew what was happening.'

Judge Stephen Clarke viewed the video clips. Defending, Andrew Green said: 'These images are of a revolting nature and are not victimless offences.

'Some of them were duplicates. Davies shows an element of immaturity and is naive and vulnerable himself.'

At the conclusion of the case Judge Clarke urged Ellesmere Port people not to turn vigilante. The court heard Davies has separately been charged with possessing 68 ecstasy tablets with intent to supply at Brannigans in Chester. He is soon to appear at crown court on this charge.