A PERVERT who used Skype to distribute child porn images of boys has been jailed for five-and-a half years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that some of the images shared by Philip Harrison were among the worst police officers had even encountered.

An investigation showed that Harrison had distributed thousands of images to 85 other Skype users and 166 users of the file sharing system Gigatribe.

His use of the messaging service Skype was described in court as “new territory”.

Jailing the 51-year-old Judge David Aubrey QC told him: “You submerged yourself in a sea of depravity.

"The perversions illustrated in so many images defy the imagination of any right thinking member of society. It is difficult to comprehend that such can exist in human nature."

"Every child depicted in those images will suffer or has suffered untold psychological and emotional harm as a result of that which occurred to them and such harm may well be beyond repair and remain with them for ever."

While on bail for these offences Harrison had taken up a position at Chorlton Community Centre in Manchester after earning their trust as a volunteer.

However he was entrusted with the security token for their bank account while the manager was away and last April used it to steal £13,822 from their account.

As a result the centre had to close down.

Judge Aubrey continued: “You were in a high degree of trust. The affect on the community centre was catastrophic.”

Claire Jones prosecuting told how the indecent image offences came to light after Merseyside Police Abusive Images Unit received a message in November 8, 2011 from West Midlands Police about on line activities on Gigatribe.

Investigations led officers to an address in Siskin Close in Newton-le-Willows where it was found Harrison had been a tenant but he had moved to a house in Regent Street also in Newton where he was living with a woman friend and her three young children.

Officers visiting the address found that he had moved out three days earlier to the YMCA but they discovered his laptop at Regent Street and his former landlady kept his other computer due to a dispute over money.

When they were examined they were found to contain almost 4,000 indecent images and movies spanning all categories of seriousness and his distribution activities led to other suspects being identified.

Harrison, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to 17 offences involving making, distributing and possessing for show indecent images, theft and failing to surrender to bail.

John Broadley defending said that Harrison has no previous similar convictions and has never been to jail. His behaviour has spiralled out of control after the breakdown of a 15 year relationship and he began drinking heavily.

He said: "He is appalled by his own conduct. He is appalled he could have accessed or made available for distribution these images. He wishes to put it behind him."

Mr Broadley added that Harrison also admitted that the theft had been "despicable."

Judge Aubrey jailed Harrison for four and a half years for the indecent image offences with 12 months consecutive for the theft. He ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and banned him from working with children.