August 2005 Bowls star collected child porn An England international bowls player has avoided jail after being caught with 148 indecent images of children on his computer. John Leeman, 40, of St Johns Terrace, Dipton, Co Durham, was found in a toilet at a Gateshead shopping centre with a picture of naked boys in 2003. He later admitted there were other perverted images on his home computer. Leeman received an 18-month community rehabilitation order when he appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday. Leeman, who admitted 16 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, was also made subject to a five-year sex offenders’ protection order. During interview after he was found in Gateshead Metrocentre, he admitted there were other perverted images on his home computer. ‘Children victims’ The computer was seized but not examined and Leeman was prosecuted for the possession of the photograph, prosecutor Barry Robson told the court. On that occasion, he was fined £100 and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. When the hoard of images was recovered, Leeman was again charged. Leeman has represented England at the World Indoor Bowls Championships, and is ranked as one of the best players in England. Mr Robson said: “He thought the websites were lawful but by his pleas he accepts there is a culpability and he pleaded guilty at the first pportunity.” Steve Rich, defending, said his client was truly remorseful, adding that most photographs were at the lower end of the scale. Sentencing Leeman, Recorder Stuart Brown QC said in child porn cases the abused children were always the victims. He said: “You will never have met these victims but they were victims nevertheless. “These were not the youngest of children although they deserve the law’s protection nonetheless.”