A MAN “accidentally” down-loaded more than 1,000 indecent images of children after accessing online porn because of problems in his marriage.

Robert John Collier, of Winston Avenue in Poole, admitted 17 charges relating to the level one photographs between March 2010 and December 2011 at Bourne-mouth Magistrates’ Court in January and he was sentenced yesterday.

The court heard that the 46-year-old had turned to internet pornography after the deaths of his mother and stepfather and continued fights with his wife.

Ron Nickless, defending, said: “He clicked on pop-ups (on porn websites) and there has been an immediate download of material straight into his computer, which he had not accessed.”

Mr Nickless said Collier originally told police he had not downloaded the images because he hadn’t realised they were on his hard drive.

“He is extremely devastated and worries about the effect this will have upon him and his family, and the consequences of what will happen, particularly if there is any publicity.”

A pre-sentence report compiled ahead of Collier’s sentencing predicted his chances of re-offending are “one per cent”.

For the charges of making indecent photographs of children aged between eight and 14 years, magistrates sentenced Collier to a three-year community order.