A professional photographer from Newton Abbot has admitted downloading more than 2,000 indecent images of children.

Ross Chesterton, 52, was found with 347 images on his computer which were at the worst category and depicted children being raped or suffering very serious abuse.

He initially claimed he accessed the images on the internet as part of a private investigation into child pornography but has now accepted his interest was sexual.

At Exeter Crown Court, Chesterton, of Wolborough Street, who is currently living in Kidderminster, admitted four counts of making indecent images.

Judge Graham Cottle adjourned the case for a probation pre-sentence report and warned Chesterton he may receive a jail sentence.

He told him: ’You have withdrawn your original basis of plea, and very sensibly so as well. It is imperative that when you talk to the author of the pre-sentence report that you make a clean breast of what you did and more importantly why you did it.

’Otherwise the probation service will not be able to prepare a report which is favourable to your case and offer options. There may still be a custodial sentence. It will be for the sentencing court to choose.’

David Evans, mitigating, said Chesterton was no longer pursuing his basis of plea and there was no longer a dispute about the factual background.

He said Chesterton had no convictions, and was currently caring for his elderly mother in Kidderminster.

The four charges which Chesterton has admitted relate to 347 images at category A, 567 at B and 973 at the lowest category C.