Magistrates heard on August 6 that his wife Nadege found the images on the family computer and reported Carvell to social services.

Carvell, 38, of Radford Road, faced 21 charges of making indecent photographs and movie clips of children on a variety of dates between August and November 2003 and a charge of possessing indecent images of children between June 6, 2002 and December 18, 2003.

Prosecuting, Mark Lunt told the court it was not the first time Mrs Carvell had come across child pornography on the home computer but this time she decided she could not let the situation continue.

Mr Lunt said: "This case came to light as a result of Mr Carvell's wife reporting to social services that there was child porn on the home computer.

"It appears this is not the first time she'd found items and on previous times she had asked him about them he had made excuses. This time she decided enough was enough and reported it to social services.

"Home visits were made by police, equipment was seized and analysis made of the computer discs. The 21 charges are a result of that."

Mr Lunt went on to explain that indecent images of children are judged on a five-point scale where one is least serious and five is 'the nasty end of the scale'.

Following Carvell's guilty plea, magistrates had to decide whether their sentencing powers went far enough or if Carvell should be sent to Warwick Crown Court.

Mr Lunt said: "For level four and five images, sentences are in excess of that available to the magistrates' court.

"The majority of charges relate to level four and three relate to level five. We are talking about video clips as well as photographs.

"The 22nd charge is a cover-all relating to the rest of the images."

He went on to describe one of the level five images in which a pre-teen girl was restrained and forced to take part in two sexual acts with an adult man.

Carvell was represented by Belinda Ariss who did not offer any mitigation during the hearing.

Magistrates decided to commit Carvell to Warwick Crown Court for sentencing on September 3. He was released on bail on condition he lives at Radford Road, does not contact Nadege Carvell or the couple's four children unless supervised by social services.