A synagogue security guard who downloaded more than 1,000 indecent images of children has avoided jail after admitting a “porn addiction”.

Paul Rosenberg, of Rowlands Close in Mill Hill, North West London, was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years on Wednesday.

He had pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children at Harrow Crown Court.

Rosenberg, 46, was known in his community as a security guard for his synagogue, where he would greet young children as they entered, the court heard.

Andrew Horsell, the defence counsel, did not specify at which synagogue Rosenberg served as a security guard.

He admitted his pornography addiction to police, and explaining he committed his actions because “curiosity can get the better of you”.

Judge Vanessa Francis told the defendant: “I am of the view that over a period of time you have been in some sort of psychiatric crisis which has led you to seek out images that have damaged your mental health, but more importantly, blighted the lives of children all over the world.

“I hope that there will come a time when you are able to face up to the harm that you have been causing to children.”

Officers were alerted after suspicious activity was located on his internet service provider, raiding his home on May 29

They found 1,148 abuse images, which he was accessing from 2010 until just a fortnight before his arrest.

Rosenberg then admitted he “could not stop” himself looking at abuse images.

Dipan Varsani, prosecuting, said: “Rosenberg said he never knowingly downloaded anything. He said that sometimes things pop up and sometimes curiosity can get the better of you. He said he did not download indecent material of children.

“During his interview at the police station he Rosenberg told the police he had a pornography addiction and he was already seeking help for this.

“He did say he was ashamed of his actions and that he was not interested in child pornography.

“He said he was aware of saving the images but that there must have been a blanket saving and that that is how the material appeared there across a number of his devices.

“It has taken him to places he is not proud of. He went on to explain how he was ashamed and how he wanted to turn his life around.”

Mr Horsell told the court that Rosenberg was a member of the “tight-knit” North London Jewish community, where the knowledge of his paedophilia had seen him “fall from grace”.

Mr Horsell said: “He plays a role in that community – he stands guard outside of the synagogue. This is a man who has worked all his life.

“He has taken significant steps off his own back. He knew what he needed to do and he did it. He is a man of intelligence, that much is obvious.”

Rosenberg was also ordered to serve seven years of a sexual prevention order, complete 50 hours of community work, 20 days of rehabilitation and pay £115 in court costs.