A former German parliamentarian was today convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography and given a suspended 15-month prison sentence.

Former Social Democrat Joerg Tauss was convicted at the state court in Karlsruhe, according to German news agency DAPD.

Tauss had acknowledged possessing child pornographic material but he strongly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he was carrying out legitimate research aimed at breaking up a child porn ring in his capacity as a senior politician.

The defence had sought his acquittal.

Tauss left the German parliament last year, having already left the centre-left Social Democrats and switched his allegiance to the small new Pirate Party, which calls for internet freedom.

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