A WOMAN with mental health issues who downloaded thousands of indecent images of children was given a community order yesterday.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Davina Ayrton, who was born David Ayrton, admitted possessing nearly 4,500 images graded level one – nude poses with no sexual activity – at the residential home in Fordingbridge where she lived in March last year.

Among the images the 32-year-old had downloaded, which featured children aged between three and 14 years old, was one rated level four, the second most serious category.

Prosecutor Heather Shimmen said: “The defendant is subject to a mental health order and is restricted to a residential care home for people with learning difficulties and mental health issues.

“Part of her care plan is that her use of electrical devices and mobile phones is monitored by staff. During one of these checks the home manager came across the images which caused her concern and she contacted the police.”

Judge Harrow was shown examples of the images and the 32-year-old’s Google search history, as well as a psychiatric report.

He imposed a three-year community order with supervision and a sexual offences prevention order with various conditions, including police monitoring of her computer and phone.

He said Ayrton, who had no similar offences to her name but a conviction for arson in 2007, had been “quite clever” in downloading the images while under supervision.

“With one exception they were all in the very lowest category of these images, which the courts unfortunately have to consider. This does not suggest a prison sentence. This is a serious case and a vile deed.

“People make money out of creating these images, which have a devastating effect on these children. It is easy for someone thousands of miles away to feel remote, but there are victims who suffer, and people like you are feeding this vicious trade,” he said.

Ayrton was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years, and to pay a £60 victim surcharge.