A 44-year-old Port Erin man has admitted possessing indecent images of children.

Robert Phillip Moore, of Erin Way, pleaded guilty to four counts of the offence when he appeared before magistrates last week and will be sentenced on April 30 after a probation report has been completed.

Thirty images were found on devices seized at his home.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane said police searched Moore’s home after information was received from North Wales police linking him with conversations online with young girls. He was arrested and interviewed. He said he believed he had done nothing illegal if the girls were over 16.

The images were assessed on the Copine scale, which measures the severity from one to five, with five being most severe. Some 29 images were assessed at level one and one at level four.

Mr Kane said the maximum sentence in summary court was six months’ custody and submitted the case was suitable to remain there.

Advocate Stephen Wood agreed, saying his client had not been charged for grooming and that Moore had suffered a brain injury in the past which had impacted on his behaviour.

A psychiatric report will be prepared before sentencing.

Bail was granted.