Chris Langham found guilty

Actor Chris Langham has been found guilty of downloading child pornography.The BAFTA award-winning actor-and-writer was taken into custody to await sentencing on 15 counts of making indecent images of a child and has had his name added to the sex offenders register.Langham, 58, claimed he looked at child pornography on the internet as research for a character in BBC comedy 'Help', but co-writer Paul Whitehouse denied any knowledge of it in court. He also claimed he was drawn to the images because he had been abused as a childLangham admitted looking at child pornography but pleaded not guilty to the charges because he said to plead guilty would have meant admitting he was a paedophile "which I am not". Lawyers for 'The Thick of It' star asked that he receive a suspended sentence but the judge refused because at least three of the films were classed as Level Five, the most serious category.The films were so disturbing that the trial had to be previously halted when a female juror borke down in tears watching the clips.The jury cleared Langham of six counts of indecent assault and two counts of serious sexual assault on a girl who was just 14 when the alleged crimes were to have begun.

The woman, now aged 25, had gone to police after she heard media reports of Langham's arrest on suspicion of possessing child pornography in 2005.

Hidden from the defendant by a screen in court, she told the jury she had met the actor when he appeared in a theatre production of 'Les Miserables'.

He took her to some of London's top restaurants and bought her expensive gifts. But her allegations that he had sex with her in his dressing room, in hotels and at his home were not proven.

Langham was supported through the trial by his three adult sons, Siencyn, 30, Dafydd, 24, and Glyn, 21, who he blew kisses to as he was led from the dock.

The actor now faces up to ten years behind bars.