A POLICE community support officer from Basingstoke who swapped child pornography for drugs has been jailed.

James Wicks, who served for Thames Valley Police, was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing indecent images of children, described by a senior prosecutor as "sickening and very disturbing".

He pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to the distribution of an indecent image of a child, six counts of possessing indecent images of a child and a further charge of supplying a class A drug.

As well as distributing the videos through Skype, the 35-year-old also discussed travelling to Thailand to rape children, according to the CPS.

Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell, of Thames Valley Police, said: "The actions of former PCSO James Wicks are absolutely reprehensible. He has shown complete disregard for the standards expected of him by committing such criminal offences.

"The harm the possession and distribution of these images will have caused their victims will be lasting and cannot be measured. Drugs also cause communities and users untold devastation and Wicks' actions are completely contrary to what those in our force work to prevent."

Hampshire police investigated Wicks which led to his arrest in August.

He was suspended following his arrest and resigned from his post in the Reading area of Berkshire in October.

Following the sentencing, John Montague, senior district crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex, said: "This case is simply shocking and disturbing. The movies found in possession of James Wicks can be described as some of the worst type classified as category A seen by experienced officers in the child abuse team.

"The idea that some individuals find these scenes 'enjoyable' and download such images for their own sexual gratification is simply sickening and very disturbing. Their actions contribute to the continuous sexual abuse of children.

"The fact that James Wicks, a PCSO for Thames Valley Police, had in his possession these movies and images, is even more alarming. His duty was to care for the community, not to pose a serious risk."

The CPS said Wicks admitted taking Crystal Meth to a a friend's house, which he shared for the purposes of sexual pleasure and in exchange for indecent movies of children.

These were put on a memory stick which he took away with him.

Mr Montague added: "Taking the drug lowered his inhibitions which led to conversations on social media and on some occasions distributing the movies he had in his possession. He distributed through Skype three of these movies, which depicted the sexual abuse of children for the 'entertainment' of other ill-minded individuals."

Internet chats were also retrieved from Wicks' computer, according to the CPS, which included conversations he had with like-minded people in which he discussed travelling to Thailand to rape children with friends.

Mr Montague said: “James Wicks admitted being in possession of these images but denied that it was for his enjoyment and tried to blame other men who would have had access to their computers.

“We did not accept this argument, the evidence was compelling and the number of images and their seriousness demonstrated that they were not there by accident. At no point did James Wicks, as a member of the police, contact his colleagues to alert that an offence was committed.

“This case shows that the Crown Prosecution Service together with the police are determined and committed to bring to justice these serious criminals.”

Wicks will be on the sex offender register for 10 years and will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order after his release.