A FORMER BBC director who was found with a sickening stash of hundreds of child abuse images has avoided jail because of his age.
Victor Melleney, 76, who worked on shows including Question Time and Panorama, claimed he "accidentally" downloaded the indecent images.
The fiend was caught when officers from the National Crime Agency raided his home close to Kensington Palace in 2018.
They also seized a number of devices from his second home, a £6million property in Shepherd's bush.
A total of 832 indecent photographs and videos were found – including the most serious Category A images – that included pictures of children believed to be as young as four being abused.
Melleney was cleared of making indecent images of children but found him guilty of possession at Kingston Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to possessing three tasers and CS gas spray ahead of a trial.
The paedo pensioner gasped in court as he was spared jail today.
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He was instead handed a 22-month prison sentence suspended for two years due to his poor health and recent heart attack.
He must also go to a rehabilitation activity requirement of 40 days and was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
Judge Simon Bryan QC said: "You are 76 years old, of poor health due to a heart condition. You had a heart attack and were intensive care for a period.
"A prison sentence would be particularly challenging. I must bear in mind the Covid-19 pandemic and the prison conditions of what would be a relatively short custodial term.
"I bear in mind there has been a considerable impact on your friends and family. You will have to live with the disgrace and ignominy that you have brought on yourself."
Melleney unsuccessfully attempted to block his trial being reported by the media as he believed jurors could be swayed by the Jimmy Savile scandal.
PAEDO DIRECTOR
The court was told he was on the radar of the NCA after they received information two IP addresses linked to him had received indecent images of children.
Officers stormed his home and were greeted by Melleney wearing a light-coloured dressing gown.
In the pocket, he had the "most damning" evidence – a hard-drive containing the majority of the indecent images of children”.
Melleney tried claiming he downloaded "an awful lot" of porn since becoming "lonely" while caring primarily for his two children in the 1990s.
He suggested the images of children had been downloaded accidentally.
Defence barrister Kieran Vaughan QC told the court Melleney had worked for the BBC for 30 years with an "unblemished record".
He said the paedo's life has been "decimated" after his wife left him and eldest daughter cut all contact.
The lawyer added: "He is a lonely man living alone as a consequence of these proceedings. His life is completely unrecognisable now compared to what it was when he was arrested in 2018.
"His fall from grace from where he previously stood has been seismic."
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