A MAN who had almost 13,000 indecent images of children in his possession has admitted a series of related offences.

Stephen John Ible pleaded guilty to a total of 37 charges when he appeared before Swansea Crown Court.

Sixty-year-old Ible (left), a retired businessman, listened intently from the dock as the clerk put all the matters to him.

The charges he will be sentenced for include 16 of making an indecent photograph of a child, 16 of distributing an indecent photograph of a child and five charges of having indecent photographs in his possession.

The court heard that on September 24 last year, Ible of Geulanfelen, Pentrecwrt, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire, was discovered with a total of 12,846 indecent images of children in his possession.

All the offences took place between December 4, 2002 and September 24, 2007, the court was told.

Explaining the need for a doctor's report prior to sentencing, Frank Phillips, defending, told the court: "It is thought he may have suffered some sort of breakdown."

Mr Phillips also made an application for bail on behalf of Ible.

Judge John Diehl QC told Ible he would renew his bail, but added that he must not read anything into this.

Judge Diehl said the case would be adjourned for around three weeks while pre-sentence and medical reports were prepared.

He told Ible that his solicitor would inform him of the exact date of his next court appearance.

Among the conditions of Ible's bail is that he reside at the address given in court.

He must also notify his local police station of his current details.

A third condition imposed on Ible related to the use of computers.

Judge Diehl told him: "You are not to have or seek access to any computer."