BUILDER Andrew Navin has admitted four charges of downloading pornographic images of children from the internet.

Navin, 39, of Thorne Road, Netheravon, pleaded guilty to four out of five charges dating from between October 2002 and January 2003 when he appeared before Kennet magistrates on Tuesday.

Marion Langford, prosecuting, said that Navin was one of many people identified by an international police operation to clamp down on the use of the internet by paedophiles.

Navin had used his credit card to buy $19.95 worth of child porn.

Police executed a warrant at Navin's home and confiscated his computer equipment.

They found eight photographs and two short movie files.

Two of the photographs portrayed erotic posing, described as level one, the lowest in seriousness.

But the two movie files were put at level five because they involved children in handcuffs, with suggestions of sadism.

Navin denied possessing a fifth still image, allegedly portraying sexual activity between a child and an adult.

Alex Daymond, defending, said the bench would have to see the images for themselves to judge how serious the offences are.

He said there was no suggestion that his client had tried to distribute the images to anyone else.

The case was adjourned until July 14 at Salisbury magistrates' court for a pre-trial review.

Navin was released on unconditional bail.