A MAN who made headlines when he lost his sight and got it partially back a year later has been spared jail for downloading child porn.

Michael Harrison, 22, had a bestiality and sadistic sex video on his computer at his family home, as well as other films and obscene images.

Burnley Crown Court was also told Harrison had been given a warning by police in 2005 when he was said to have indecently assaulted two schoolboys.

Harrison was featured in the media in 2005 when he was struck down by a rare disease which damaged the optic nerve.

He later held fundraising events for the Burnley and District Blind Society for the support the group had given him.

The defendant, of Badger Close, Padiham, had admitted 16 counts of making and possessing indecent photos of children.

He was given 42 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and must attend the Northumbria Sex Offender Programme.

He was put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and given a five-year sex offences prevention order.

Sentencing, Recorder Alan Conrad, QC, warned Harrison: “If you download child porn again you will be in line for a very long sentence and even longer if there is any sexual contact.”

David Temkin, prosecuting, said on February 15 the defendant was arrested over a burglary allegation which was not proceeded with. Officers searched his home.

The defendant's mother showed police into his bedroom and they found two printed indecent images in a cupboard. Two computers were seized and Harrison's mother, who was very shocked by events, felt he had been using the internet excessively.

Mr Temkin said police found two videos at level five - the most serious level- 12 films and 14 stills at level four and other videos and photos at level one to thee.

Kevin Preston, for Harrison, said: “This is somebody who the probation service can work with and can hopefully prevent any future escalation and deterioration into deviant behaviour in the future."