A pervert vicar has been sentenced to twelve months behind bars after he was caught downloading sickening and indecent images of children, for the second time.
Reverend Paul Battersby, from Wirral, had been dealt a prison sentence of 34 weeks in 2007, suspended for two years, after his wife informed police of his lewd activities.
But in April 2009 the 60-year-old, who had been a minister for more than thirty years, was discovered using the same online nickname as he had done during his previous offences, which he was forbidden to do.
When officers seized his computer, they unearthed a horde of nearly 160 shocking images of abused children.
Sentencing Battersby at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, Judge David Aubrey QC said: "Being a highly intelligent and highly articulate man, you should well recognise that each image that you have observed for your own sexual gratification represents the abuse of a child.
"By doing that which you did you have perpetuated such abuse of such a young child."
The Judge sentenced Battersby, of Bebington, Wirral, to eight months imprisonment and activated four months of his previous sentence, giving a total of one year behind bars.
He sighed and closed his eyes as he was led away by guards, and was told he must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.
In April 2007, Battersby was working as a vicar at St Ambrose Church, Leyland when the horrific videos and images were found by his 17-year-old stepson.
Amongst the indecent material was a video of a 10-year-old girl being raped by her father.
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