Colin Moore, 64, was caught after he handed the computer to the company’s IT department when it stopped working.

His colleagues at building firm Ocon Construction contacted police after finding the images.

A second laptop was seized from Moore’s flat in Leeds and more disturbing images and movies were then discovered.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that John Bull, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court that a total of 148 images were discovered, of which 38 were level four – the second most serious.

After Moore’s arrest in July 2008 he initially denied the offences but later admitted he was responsible for downloading images at home and at work.

Moore, now of Stainforth, Doncaster, admitted 10 charges of making indecent images of children and one of possession of indecent images of children.

James Bourne-Arton, mitigating, said Moore was a high level project manager. He had worked for the firm for 43 years but lost his job as a result of the offences.

Mr Bourne-Arton said Moore would respond well to a sexual offenders’ treatment programme.

He said Moore would welcome help to address his behaviour.

The offences happened when his 26-year marriage had just ended and he was living alone in a one-bedroom flat in Leeds.

The barrister said Moore, who has no previous convictions, had been searching for adult pornography on the computers but had accessed illegal images and then deleted them.

Judge Sally Cahill sentenced Moore to a three-year community and supervision order in which he will have to attend the sexual offenders’ treatment programme.

The judge told Moore: “I am satisfied that you are somebody who will respond well to appropriate forms of treatment.”