A TOTAL of 280 images of child abuse and extreme pornography were found on the computers of a father and son team behind a children's entertainment firm in Tardebigge, a court heard.

Robert and Nigel Bourne, who run Funbusters, are standing trial after police found scores of pictures featuring children as young as four and dozens of searches for "Lolita-type" websites. Other images featured animals.

Simon Phillips, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court that search terms which appeared to be related to underage pornography had been found on a Sony laptop, a HP desktop computer and an iPhone seized at the Bournes' home in Hewell Lane, Tardebigge, where the business is run from, in a police raid on October 6 , 2011.

After examination by experts, the two men were arrested and interviewed five days later.

Son Nigel, aged 28, denies charges of possessing 27 indecent images of children aged between four and 14, plus 24 images of extreme pornography.

His father, 52-year-old Robert, a former builder who launched Funbusters himself, denies charges of possessing 198 indecent images of children aged between six and 14, along with 31 extreme pornographic images.

In evidence, Nigel Bourne - who, it was claimed, regularly uses adult sites - told the court he had never searched for or viewed indecent images of children.

He said a lot of people had access to the computer, which was not password-protected, including visitors, and suggested a passer-by may have been able to enter the house to view the images as the office was kept unlocked.

One of their regular visitors, he said, was an ex-convict his father had known while in prison in 2008 for dousing himself in petrol and threatening to set himself on fire inside a property.

This man had been staying as a guest shortly before the police raid, he claimed - but refused to give the jury a name or description, saying he feared reprisals.

Mr Phillips also revealed to the jury Nigel Bourne had recently breached his bail conditions which ban him from working with children, telling him: "At least once, you have been caught working at a children's party. That is how seriously you take your bail conditions."

Robert Bourne - known as Big Bob or Fun Bob - declined to give evidence in court.

His friend of 20 years, Simon Edwards, a graphic designer from Brierley Hill, told the court Robert only had "basic" computer skills and would only be able to carry out a Google search with help.

He may have also been at Mr Edwards' house helping to redecorate on October 5 at the time some of the images were downloaded, he added.
The trial continues.