A “THRILL-seeking” Hampshire financier took sexually explicit pictures of himself and his dog, a court heard.

Southampton Crown Court heard was told Simon Burgess, who makes £80,000 a year in the finance sector in London, made an image involving his dog whilst viewing extreme adult pornography in his family home.

In an unusual case, Burgess, 55, pleaded guilty to the charge of making an indecent image involving an animal.

In a probation report compiled for the court, it found Burgess’ actions were “thrill-seeking, risk-taking and opportunistic”.

Burgess, who lives in Heathman Street, Nether Wallop, near Stockbridge, with his wife of 20 years, was described as suffering with depression.

The report added: “He accepts responsibility for the offending and said he got no form of sexual gratification from it. In my opinion he did get some form of sexual gratification.”

Sentencing, Judge Adam Feest QC said: “You were previously a man of good character, something you are no longer allowed to claim.”

He added: “In handing you a community order this does not diminish the seriousness of your offences.”

Burgess was given a 12-month community order.