A mum-of-two pleaded guilty to possessing two pornographic videos of dogs.

On the first day of her trial, Michelle Johnston, 34, of Juniper Drive, Battersea, changed her plea to guilty.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday, February 27, she was arrested in April last year for a separate offence when police downloaded her phone data and found the obscene material.

The material included a video of a dog performing a sex act on a woman and another video in which a woman performed a sex act on a man while also having sex with a dog.

In police interview, Johnston said someone must have sent them to her and she probably should have deleted them, the court heard.

She told the police everybody sent videos like that to each other on WhatsApp and she did not know it was an offence to have them on her phone, the court heard.

Defending, Alex Mills said: “Essentially what happened here Miss Johnston didn’t ask for these images, she was sent them, looked at them once and didn't access them again.

“This is really a case where she was sent something she didn’t really ask for and didn't want.”

The judge asked why she did not delete the unpleasant material and added: “I can’t imagine anybody would want to keep that on their phone.”

Mr Mills said Johnston never accessed the videos again and that WhatsApp downloaded the material to her phone. He also said Johnston had learning difficulties and epilepsy.

District Judge James Henderson said: “I do give you credit for pleading guilty to these two offences – not as much credit if you pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

“I take into account you did receive these from somebody else, you didn’t seek them and that you viewed them once and didn’t view them again but you did not delete them from your mobile phone. I must admit I find it strange you didn’t delete them.”

Judge Henderson gave Johnston a conditional discharge for the next two years. The offence will be registered on her criminal record, but no further action will be taken unless she commits a further offence in the next two years.

He also ordered her to pay £200 in costs and a £15 surcharge.