A former Wiltshire Council employee who was found to be in possession of hundreds of child sex abuse images has been sentenced.

Kenneth Oliver, 73, of Leeson Road, Isle of Wight, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, November 22.

Oliver had pleaded guilty to five offences of a sexual nature at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, October 8.

He was charged with making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, possession of an extreme pornographic image portraying an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal, namely a horse, which was grossly offensive, and possession of extreme pornographic images portraying an act likely to result in serious injury to a person's private parts.

Read More: Former council employee found with 'hundreds of child sex abuse images'

These offences are said to have taken place over a five-year period from November 5, 2018, to June 16, 2023.

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Oliver, who was initially from Swindon, has been employed by Wiltshire Council as a Canals and Project Officer since 2009 and previously held several roles with the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, including Trust Chairman. 

He is believed to have moved to the Isle of Wight when he was charged with the string of serious offences.

Oliver was sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for 24 months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.