A JUDGE has demanded answers from Thames Valley Police as to why it took more than two years for a man who admitted a string of sex offences to be brought to justice.

Oxford Crown Court Judge Peter Ross said the public deserved to answers over why the case of Curtis Geddes - a man who was arrested and confessed to several offences in May 2014 including sexual activity with a child - was delayed and finally sentenced last week.

Judge Ross ordered a letter to be 'on his desk' by tomorrow with an explanation, adding if the force failed he would instead call officers to appear in open court to explain.

He also questioned the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on the hold-up ahead of Geddes' sentencing, with prosecution barrister Richard Whitcombe saying the CPS had only been handed the initial papers from the police in early summer last year.

Mr Whitcombe said Geddes, 20, of Grebe Road, Bicester, downloaded more than 3,000 indecent images and more than 200 indecent videos of children, and also had sex with a girl when she was 14.

He added undercover police officers made contact with Geddes online who said he 'was sexually interested in girls between eight and 13 years old'.

Geddes was handed a 36-month community order, with a supervision requirement and sex offender treatment programme requirement after he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child, six counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Judge Ross said: "The indecent images, they are dreadful offences because they involve the abuse of children all over the world. It's frightening for judges like me to read."

Judge Ross told the court the case was one of the most 'unusual' cases he had come across in his 12-and-a-half years as a judge.

He added: "I cannot not ignore what I regard as an unexplainable and wholly unjustifiable delay in bringing this matter to court.

"The effects are considerable. The impact on sentence will be enormous and it's hard to discern any reason for it.

"We are talking about two and a half years. I will want an explanation and if I do not get it, I will require the officer, divisional commander, to appear before me in open court to explain.

"It flies in the face of all the guidance."

Thames Valley Police said it was in the process of providing a response to the judge through the Head of CID, Detective Superintendent Paul Hayes.

Geddes was arrested in May 2014, but was not charged until September 29 last year after police took more then two-and-a-half years to get the case to the CPS.

Mr Whitcombe told the court heard how Geddes originally made contact with a girl through an online forum on the internet, then met each other some time later and had sexual intercourse in a hotel when she was 14.

He said when the force turned up to arrest Geddes at his home in Bicester, it was 'clear he knew what it was about'.

Geddes disclosed the information of the sexual intercourse despite there being no evidence put forward by police on being arrested for possessing indecent images.

Mr Whitcombe added: "He also admitted sharing the images with others who he met online. He suggested life at home was not so good. He would become depressed and the images would in some way release him."

Defending Geddes, Kellie Enever, said the delay in the case had been 'absolutely staggering'.

She added the defendant made 'full and frank admissions' adding he 'dropped what can only be described as a bombshell on the police' by admitting the further offences.

Ms Enever said he had downloaded some of the images as a youth and that he had a complex upbringing and family life.

She added: "For the rest of his life he will bare this burden. This regret of what he did, legally was inexcusable."

Sentencing Geddes, Judge Ross said: "I cannot ignore the delay and the effects of that on your client and I will not ignore the steps that he took pretty quickly to deal with the issues that lead to this offending.

"This is a highly unusual case, possibly unique, in my 12-and-a-half-years as a judge."

"I'm not going to put in the public domain all the material that I have seen in relation to you and this young women. It does not seem to be right.

"No child should experience a childhood such as yours."

Judge Ross added: "The law is clear, she deserved protection.

"Had it not been for your complete honesty you willingness to reveal offending of which the police knew nothing, count one to three would not have emerged."

Judge Ross handed Geddes as community sentence with two requirements. a supervision order for 36 months and a Thames Valley sex offender treatments accredited programme requirement.

But the judge said he was 'not wholly convinced' the defendant needed to attend the programme, but said he may change the order administratively if the probation service indicated the programme was not necessary.

Louise Rosher, spokeswoman for the CPS said there were no delays in the case that were attributable to the independent body.