A PAEDOPHILE has been ordered to give police access to his internet browsing history for the next five years after he admitted downloading nearly 100 child abuse images.

Thomas Davey, 25, of Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff, downloaded 40 of the most serious and disturbing category A images between January 1, 2015, and February 10 this year.

He also downloaded 24 category B images and 24 category C images during the same period.

Davey admitted a fourth charge of distributing seven category C images, which he sent via email on January 13 last year.

Southend Magistrates’ Court handed him a 12 month community order, which includes a five year sexual harm prevention order.

As part of the order, Davey will have to show police his browsing history if and when required.

He is also barred from deleting his history or using any specialist software that deletes history.

The case comes after Andrew Marchant, 38, of Anson Chase, Shoebury, was spared jailed at Basildon Crown Court last week despite admitting downloading 434 indecent images of children.

Former school governor Vincent Copeland, 61, of Leigh Road, Leigh, also received a community order earlier this month after he admitted his vile child porn habit.

James Courtenay, Southend councillor for children, said it was a “sad state of affairs” that so many man are drawn to the images.

He said: “At the end of the day it’s down to the court to asses each case individually.

“If it was the case that we were going to lock them up and throw away the key then personally I would have no problem with that.

“But the reality is if they can only be jailed for six months I would be concerned about what they might do when they get out.

“With these orders police are able to keep an eye on them for five years.”

The order also stops Davey buying or receiving any device capable of storing digital images, unless he tells his monitoring officer in advance.

He was ordered to complete a 16 day internet sex offender treatment programme and 100 hours of unpaid work. Davey was also told to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

An Essex Police spokesman declined to comment.