An Oxford graduate and pharmaceutical executive has been spared jail after downloading over 13,000 indecent images of children.

David McConkey, 39, was emotional as he appeared before Reading Crown Court for sentencing today (May 3).

He had previously pleaded guilty on three counts of making indecent images of children, and one count of possessing prohibited images.

The court heard that, between 2018 and 2023, the defendant downloaded over 13,000 indecent images of children - as well as 101 prohibited images.

He also used an encrypted messaging app to engage in discussions about child abuse with other paedophiles.

The full extent of his offending was only discovered when police raided his home in Haslemere Road, Windsor. Officers had been alerted to his social media communications, and were able to recover thousands of indecent images from his devices.

One of the children depicted was believed to be as young as two years old.

Prosecuting barrister Evie Smith said: "During a search of the address, illegal images were found on three devices - a black mobile phone, an external hard drive, and a PC desktop unit."

McConkey was arrested. At interview, he made a full confession and disclosed to police that he had a sexual interest in children.

In court, Recorder Daniel Edwards said that the defendant's frankness was 'unusual', and had to be taken into account at sentencing.

The prosecution conceded that there was no evidence McConkey had been involved in distribution. Ms Smith said: "The investigating officer did not find anything on the devices to suggest anything on the devices other than a sexual interest in children."

Alastair Smith, defending McConkey, emphasised that his client had taken proactive steps towards his own rehabilitation.

He said that the defendant's family had struggled to come to terms with his offending: "They have themselves gone through the process of reconciling the man they knew and loved with the man who committed these offences."

Rounding off the hearing, Recorder Edwards told McConkey: "You are not going to prison today."

The defendant has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years. In addition, he will be made to register as a sex offender, and to pay £340 in prosecution costs.