A former councillor who had more than 500 indecent images of children on his phone and iPad has been given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Conor McGrath, 29, from Stevenage, had his devices seized when he was arrested on an unrelated matter. While he was under investigation, he disclosed to a colleague that they contained indecent images.

The information was passed to the police and, after the equipment was examined, McGrath was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children between June 2024 and March 2025.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to making 77 category A images – the most serious kind of child sexual abuse material, 109 category B images and 329 category C images.

Claire Beards from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The volume and nature of the indecent images that McGrath collected and stored showed his sustained and unlawful sexual interest in children.

“Some of the images were among the most serious and disturbing for which a person can be prosecuted.

“Anyone who downloads, stores or shares indecent images of children contributes directly to their abuse and exploitation.

“We are committed to working with the police to safeguard children from sexual harm and to prosecute those who commit these appalling offences.”

McGrath is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.