A man has admitted 16 offences relating to obscene images of children.

Philip John Kermode, 41, of Douglas Road, Kirk Michael, is also thought to have pretended to be a child online and traded pictures, which were not indecent, as he chatted to youngsters under 16.

Kermode pleaded guilty to 15 counts of possessing indecent images and one of distributing indecent images.

He was committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing and will appear there on November 5.

possession

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court that Kermode was found in possession of 86 still images and 24 moving images.

On the Copine scale, which rates the severity of images from one to five, with five being the severest, 22 images were rated at level four and two at level five. The images were found on two mobile phones belonging to Kermode and he distributed images via a variety of mobile applications.

In total, 68 images were rated at level one, 11 at level two, seven at level three, 22 at level four, and two at level five.

Ms Braidwood said indications had been found that Kermode engaged in chats with youngsters online and used a child’s photos, pretending he was her.

He used pictures of her to trade and would request pictures back. Many of the people he chatted with were identified as under 16.

Defence advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that Kermode had been on bail but wished to surrender his bail and be remanded in custody.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that her court powers would not be sufficient for sentencing.