A ROTHERHAM magistrate has admitted possessing hundreds of extreme porn photos and videos - some showing women in sexual activity with animals.

School governor Michael Hall, 46, was found to have 230 photographs and 150 videos when police raided his home last September.

Some showed women engaging in acts with horses, a donkey, dogs, a gerbil, a frog and a live snake.

Officers acted on a tip-off after discovering the magistrate, whose online activity had raised concerns, had an account on a file-sharing website.

Hall, of Foxland Avenue, Swinton, pleaded guilty to 21 specimen counts of possession of extreme pornography.

He was sentenced to a three-year community order which requires him to spend 144 days completing a programme for sex offenders. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs.

His case was heard at Leeds Magistrates Court rather than in South Yorkshire, where he would be well-known in judicial circles.

Hall was serving as a magistrate in Rotherham when his crimes were detected. He was appointed to the bench in 2007 and served until October last year when he realised his offending had come to light.

He was also a governor at three Rotherham schools - St Thomas Primary School in Kilnhurst, Swinton Fitzwilliam Primary School in Swinton, and Swinton Community School in Mexborough.

He was also a member of Rotherham Council’s children and young people’s scrutiny panel.

Sally Sharp, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s rape and serious sexual offences unit in West Yorkshire, said: “This case is particularly repugnant, involving multiple charges of possessing extreme pornographic images.

“The fact the defendant was a magistrate, and in a position of public authority and trust, is an aggravating feature.”

A spokesman for the council said: “We have been made aware a Swinton man has been convicted of possessing extreme pornography.”

“The council has supported the police with their investigation and we are pleased it has reached this outcome in court.”

“We can confirm this individual was a governor at Swinton Community, Swinton Fitzwilliam and Kilnhurst St Thomas’ schools, and was a member of the children and young peoples scrutiny panel.He has already resigned from all these posts.”

Possessing extreme porn is an offence under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which makes it illegal to possess images of bestiality, necrophilia and acts which threaten life or are likely to result in serious injury.