A man searched for indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images during the coronavirus lockdown, a court has heard.

Robert French, 32, accessed indecent images of children having searched for child porn and kids porn after the country was put into lockdown by the government as a result of the covid pandemic.

Norwich Crown Court heard French used phrases including child porn, kids porn and dog porn during his searches.

Oliver Haswell, prosecuting, said police "became aware a particular Facebook account was connected with indecent images".

He said officers decided to visit French's home in Cromer and seize a number of digital devices upon which they discovered a number of indecent images as well as videos.

French, of Church Street, Cromer, appeared at court for sentence having admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, including 20 images and 44 videos at category A, the most serious on or before April 14 2021.

He also admitted possessing extreme pornographic images on the same dates.

Andrew Thompson, mitigating, said the offences happened more than two years ago with no further developments in terms of the defendant trying to access this sort of material.

He said it was "perhaps not a coincidence" the offending took place during lockdowns which came during the coronavirus pandemic when there was little to distract him.

Recorder Johh Hardy imposed an 18-month community order made up of 40 days rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) and 40 hours unpaid work.

Recorder Hardy said: "You understand you must not do this again".

French was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and also put on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.