A paedophile vicar who posted explicit handwritten fantasy stories about child sex through neighbours letterboxes has been spared a jail sentence.

Rev Peter Low, 65, was found in possession of 124 indecent images of children, including nine in the most serious category A, a court heard on Tuesday.

The priest was caught after he called police himself to report a burglary at his home in Heybridge, Essex. Police found nothing stolen but his handwriting matched graphic notes about 'scantily clad' children that had been posted through neighbours' doors, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

But Low avoided prison and instead has been sentenced to a three-year community order after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children and one count of possession of a prohibited image of a child on March 29.

He was sentenced on Tuesday.

The Bishop of Chelmsford suspended Low from his duties as a vicar during the police investigation after he was arrested on July 28. The former parish priest will now face a Clergy Disciplinary Measure but the Church of England is limited in its powers to strike him off.

A spokesman for the diocese said: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse.

'The crime of online child abuse was no less serious because the victims were unknown to the perpetrator and did not come from any of the parishes in which he had worked.

'Mr Low remains suspended pending a disciplinary process which can now begin.'

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Benson ordered Low to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a five-year sexual harm prevention order. He said: 'You have previously led an unblemished life and served the community in your position.'

Low must also sign the sex offenders' register.