AN OXFORD University lecturer who wrote about the 'ethics of child pornography' has been jailed after he was caught with child pornography.

A court heard this morning that Peter King had the vile images of child sexual abuse - with children as young as five - because he became 'addicted' after his research.

The 63-year-old of Langston Close, Churchill, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court after he was caught with more than 3,000 indecent images of children spanning eight years between 2010 and 2018.

READ AGAIN: Oxford lecturer Peter King admits having indecent images of children.

Outlining the case prosecutor Scott Brady QC said King - an ethics and philosophy lecturer - was caught after police raided his home in the early hours of August 9 2018.

A computer and two external hard drives were seized and analysed by investigators.

Police discovered a haul of images of child abuse, totalling 183 in the most severe category - A, as well as 134 in category B.

There was also 2,675 in category C and prohibited images of a child.

Prosecutors said the indecent images featured girls aged between five and 14 years old.

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He was also found to have used a Russian exchange website to find images and used search terms to hunt for banned images.

The court heard that King had also written an academic paper on 'ethical issues concerning child pornography.'

It was also revealed that King - who was worked at various Oxford University colleges for 35 years - was cautioned in 2003 for possession of indecent images.

In mitigation defence barrister James Mulholland QC said that his client - who has been married for 40 years - showed 'remorse.'

He said King had 'developed an addiction or compulsion to view such material' after he had researched the topic for academic purposes.

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Mr Mulholland added that King primarily had images in the least severe category.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said there were 'those who speak very highly of your academic prowess' but a jail term had to be imposed.

She said: "It must have been clear to you that behind each and every one of those images lies a victim.

"The message needs to go out that the courts will not; society will not, tolerate this sort of offending."

King was jailed for a total of seven months and will sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing the Crown Prosecution Service said King showed a 'repeated pattern of behaviour' and he 'knew what he was doing was illicit.'

Paula Appiah of the CPS said: “King held an esteemed position at a prestigious university, but his actions fell far short of the law.

"The law is in place to protect young children and we are dedicated to bringing perpetrators of this crime to justice.”