AN ex-nurse who looked at internet child abuse for 18 months blamed his perverted behaviour on drink, a court was told.

Edward Allen, aged 47, who had worked as a nurse for 20 years, was found to be in possession of almost 250 disgusting images of youngsters when police raided his then home in Oswaldtwistle, eight months ago, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The hearing was told the defendant told police the pictures included children as young as eight.

Allen, now of Newton Road, Lowton, had admitted three counts of possessing an indecent image of a child and had been committed for sentence by Blackburn magistrates.

He was given a three-year community order with three years' supervision and an internet sex offenders programme, was ordered to sign the sexual offences register for five years and received a five-year sexual offences prevention order. He had no previous convictions.

Allen admitted being in possession of and viewing indecent images and blamed a problem he had with alcohol.

James Heyworth, defending, said: "He has been, for most of his life, alcohol dependent. Since May, he has been clean of alcohol and still attends Alcoholics Anonymous."

The barrister said Allen had been a nurse for 20 years and then ran a gardening business.