A MANAGER at the Marks & Spencer store in Port Glasgow was caught with vile images of children as young as five being sexually abused.

Graham Campbell hid his obsession with child pornography while holding down the senior position at the local store.

According to official court papers, the 39-year-old began downloading scores of indecent images to his mobile phone on September 8 last year — the day after M&S opened its new store in the Port.

He continued to hoard explicit material on the handset for more than a month, until October 22, when cybercrime police swooped on his home with a search warrant.

Married man Campbell continued to work for M&S right up until around the time of his conviction last month.

The Telegraph understands that the company had been unaware of the charges as Campbell failed to disclose them to his employers.

The company says it does not comment on legal matters.

An M&S spokesperson told the Tele: "Mr Campbell was made redundant in September as part of our stores estate programme.

"We have robust employment processes in place and we continuously work closely with the relevant authorities and take action as necessary.”

Campbell had 50 indecent images on his phone, all of young girls aged between five and 13.

A number of them were classed as 'category A' material, recognised in law as the worst form of child abuse pictures.

However, he has been spared a prison sentence and instead been placed under supervision for a year and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Campbell will also spend 12 months on the Sex Offenders Register.

Prosecutor Sarah Healing told a sheriff: "The accused opened the door and allowed police officers entry.

"He told police, 'I've been stupid. They are all on my phone'.

"His phone was seized and a preview examination found indecent images of children on the device."

Ms Healing submitted a detailed report describing the disgusting material but did not narrate it in court,

The fiscal depute said: "Initially the phone showed up two indecent images of children at the worst category A and two at category B.

"He was arrested, cautioned and charged and made no reply.

"The phone was subjected to a full examination by Police Scotland’s cyber unit, where 50 indecent images were discovered, all of female children aged between five and 13 years old.

"They were all still images, with four at category A, 10 at category B and 36 at category C."

Campbell's lawyer Jonathan Paul told the court: "The background report is helpful.

"He is a man with no previous convictions.

"He was made redundant because, he is told, for financial reasons.

"He has had a long and happy relationship with his wife for 17 years.

"This offence has had a massive impact on his family."

Sheriff John Hamilton said of the community-based punishment he handed down to Campbell: "This sentence is all about the protection of children."