A scout leader from Plymouth who had hundreds of pornographic pictures of teenage boys on his home computer has appeared in court.

Norman Kelway, Assistant County Commissioner (International) of the Devon Scout Association had more than 400 images of boys under 16, Plymouth Magistrates Court was told.

Some of the pictures were the most severe level of porn, including one of a boy being restrained and spanked, prosecutor Michael French said.

In his first court appearance Kelway admitted distributing an indecent photograph of a naked boy as young as 13 in August 2002.

The 48-year-old HM Customs Officer and former Plymouth scout group leader also pleaded guilty to making an indecent photo of a child in February 2003 and to possessing indecent photos of children in October 2003.

Kelway, from Erlstoke Close, Plymouth, also asked for four other offences of making indecent images of children to be considered.

Mr French said police in Dorset found an e-mailed picture of a naked teenage boy sent by Kelway when they seized a Bournemouth man's computer.

When officers examined Kelway's home computer they found 240 images, half of which were of boys under 16. Three of these, one showing a restrained boy being spanked, fell into the most serious pornography category.

Officers found a further 300 deleted images of naked teenage boys on the computer. Around 250 of these were category one porn. Five images were category five, the most serious.

The judge released Kelway on bail on condition he live and sleep at his home address and has no unsupervised contact with children aged 16 or under.

Kelway is to be placed on the sex offenders' register, the judge said. The case was adjourned for sentencing at Plymouth Crown Court at a date to be fixed pending the preparation of reports.

FOR more Devon news, order a regular copy of the Sunday Independent. FIRST. BEST. EVERY SUNDAY...