A pervert caught with indecent images of children as young as two has been spared prison.
Adam Younger had downloaded hundreds of child abuse images, which were found on devices at his home by police.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard police went to his home on June 8 2020 with a search warrant.
In total, 244 of the most serious, category A, images were found, along with 335 category B and 694 category C.
The ages of the children ranged from two to 13.
Younger, of Gainsborough Grove, Arthurs Hill, Newcastle, was sentenced to 18 months jail suspended for 18 months with a six month curfew. He will also have to sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and will be barred from working with children and vulnerable people.
Judge Robert Spragg told him: "Without people like you viewing this type of material, there would not be a market for them to be created in the first place."
The court heard he may be moving home as a result of the "unwelcome attention these offences have resulted in".
Steven Reed, defending, said: "He was suffering a very high degree of anxiety at the time.
"He was prescribed medication and was self-medicating with alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has been an enabling factor in this offending.
"He has sought help for his abuse of alcohol."
Younger had a difficult childhood, with his mum dying when he was 15, the court heard.
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