A SUPERMARKET worker who forwarded an unpleasant sexual image from his phone as a prank has been sentenced to a community order.

Judge Colin Burn told 24-year-old Nadeem Qasim his case was a long way from those with a sexual interest in children who shared images between each other.

Prosecutor Jeremy Hill-Baker told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that police seized a mobile phone from another man as part of a separate police inquiry.

When they examined the phone they found a 90-second film of a woman simulating sex with a two-year-old boy. It had been sent from a mobile phone traced to the defendant.

Police also discovered a 55-second clip of a woman performing a sex act on a dog.

Qasim, of Braithwaite Road, Keighley, pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing indecent images.

His barrister, Nick Worsley, said his client had admitted sending the image but said it was sent as a joke.

Mr Worsley said: "It seems clear this defendant was sent the image. It had gone viral on the internet. Someone had sent it to the defendant. He thought it was a prank and forwarded it on."

Mr Worsley said the defendant was of good character. He had worked for six years at a local supermarket, was in a relationship and had a loving family.

He said Qasim had been abused as a result of publicity about his case and it would be punishment enough for a young man with a bright future to have the offence on his record.

"The whole court process has been a salutory lesson," said Mr Worsley.

He said there was no suggestion his client got any sexual gratification from the image.

Judge Burn told Qasimthe images were unpleasant but he was satisfied the offence did not fall into the category of those with a sexual interest in children sharing images with others. He said he took into account Qasim's previous good character, the probation report and testimonials about him.

He sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, ordered him to register as a sex offender for five years, and to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.