A pervert who tried to blame his identical twin brother for indecent images of children found on his computer has been jailed for 18 months.

Robert Grave continues to maintain his brother “set him up” over the hundreds of images, despite being convicted by a jury in February.

A judge described it as “a particularly unpleasant feature” and branded it “mean spirited and nasty”.

Grave, of Langley Road, Sittingbourne, denied six charges of possessing indecent pictures and movie clips of children. One included a young girl in a sexual pose with a dog.

The 49-year-old lorry driver’s brother, who lives in Norway, refuted the claims by TV link to Maidstone Crown Court.

Grave insisted after his arrest in February 2013 that search letters PTSC and PTHC meant pro team streetcar and pro team hot car, not pre-teen softcore and pre-teen hardcore.

Prosecutor David Harounoff said Grave made “complete denials” that he had anything to do with the images.

“There was no hint in any of his answers that the computer belonged to somebody else,” he said.

"A particularly unpleasant feature is the way you sought to pass the blame to your brother, irrespective of any ill-feeling that has existed between you. It was sheer mean spiritedness and unpleasantness..." - Judge Jonathan Carroll

But he later declared that he realised the computer had been used by his brother.

He accepted he had searched adult pornography and admitted he had seen some indecent images of children.

Analysis of the computer revealed references to eight to ten-year-olds.

Two files containing the indecent images were found. One was headed “Paedo collection 2012”. Grave accepted he set up and used the account.

Alexia Zimbler, defending, said Grave had attended court prepared to go to prison. His relationship had broken down and he had no home to go back to.

“It sounds like a sob story but those are the facts,” said Miss Zimbler. “I suspect he will continue to maintain his innocence.”

Although there were images at the most serious level, she said, it was not a “top-of-the-range” case.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said they were “particularly unpleasant” and the offences were serious andgrave.

“I absolutely reject your account,” he told Grave. “You were positively seeking out material of young children.

“A particularly unpleasant feature is the way you sought to pass the blame to your brother, irrespective of any ill-feeling that has existed between you.

“It was sheer mean spiritedness and unpleasantness. You told the probation officer you were angry about the verdict.

“It shows me there is not one flicker of remorse for what you have done and have no insight into your offending.”

Grave’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for the same period.

After sentencing, DC Karl Brett, of Kent Police’s child exploitation investigation team, said: “Despite overwhelming forensic evidence, Grave sought to point the finger of suspicion at others including his own family members.

“I am glad that the jury were able to see through his tissue of lies, and that this has been reflected in the sentence he now receives.

“Make no mistake, the material Grave deliberately sought out and downloaded were images and videos of real children suffering appalling abuse.

“People like Grave have no understanding of the gravity of their actions, and must face the consequences.”

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