A MALMESBURY man has been warned to expect a jail sentence after he admitted downloading movies of child abuse from the internet.

Martin Wicks also had scores of prohibited images of children as well as pictures of bestiality when his computer was examined, Swindon Crown Court heard.

The 52-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of making and one of possessing indecent images of children when he appeared before a judge on Friday.

Wicks, formerly of Corn Gastons, also admitted possessing extreme pornography and prohibited images of children.

The court heard he had 451 pictures and movies of child abuse, downloaded between May 2008 and August last year.

He also had 132 prohibited images of children on the machine when he was arrested on August 8.

Paul Grumbar, defending, said although his client had no previous convictions, he accepted he was facing a jail term.

He said "He lives in his van, his marriage had broken down, that is how he came to be looking at the computer. He is not a very educated man."

But Recorder Alastair Malcolm QC insisted the sentencing judge would need a report if only to determine the length of sentence.

He warned Wicks: "I want to make it perfectly plain that the offences that you have pleaded guilty to are such that almost inevitably you will go to custody.

"I have asked for a pre-sentence report because of your previous history.

"The effect of the pre-sentence report may well affect the length of sentence passed on you and they may have alternative suggestions, but I don't want to raise your hopes it will be anything but custody."

Wicks was bailed until April 25.