A paedophile has escaped jail after being caught with more than 15,000 indecent images of children, some as young as five.
Tony Collins, 49, who was also found to have children's kickers, claimed he 'didn't realise it was illegal'.
A judge showed mercy to Collins, who was said to struggle to read and write, and he was able to cycle away from court after his sentencing hearing.
A court heard Collins, from St Helens, was caught with over 15,000 indecent photographs of children, some as young as five, as well as female underwear. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that police officers, acting on intelligence, searched the 49-year-old's address on May 20, 2021, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Prosecuting, Sarah Holt, said during the search, a number of electronic devices were found, including a Samsung phone, a hard drive and a laptop, as well as a collection of female underwear, some of which were identified as 'children's knickers'. Ms Holt told the court that upon examination of the electronic devices thousands of indecent images were found.
Police found two 'category A' images - the most severe - including a picture of a 13-year-old girl. Around 138 'category B' images were also found as well as 15,248 'category C' images, involving children aged between eight and nine. Some of the other images found included a child estimated to be aged between five and seven, the court was told.
The viewing and downloading of these images spanned four years, from 2017 to 2021.
Ms Holt added some images were also found in the recycling bin of the devices. She told the court that during a voluntary interview, the defendant said he had learning difficulties and 'didn't realise it was illegal to look at those photos'. She went on to say Collins claimed he 'didn't look for images of children and wasn't sexually attracted to children'.
Despite a maximum potential sentence for his crimes of ten years behind bars, the judge, Mr Recorder Harris, said he took into account the lack of previous convictions and 'personal characteristics'. He said: "It's important to note (by) viewing and downloading of images, you are perpetuating a wicked and repellent market for the the exploitation of children. Some are very young.
"The corrosive effects and psychological harm caused to children who are forced to pose for these photographs is incalculable."
Recorder Harris added that Collins had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of making indecent photographs as well as possession of indecent images and prohibited photographs of children, which was taken into account when sentencing. The court also heard how Collins was assessed as being a 'medium risk of harm to children'.
Recorder Harris said Collins denied 'any form of sexual gratification' and was 'unable to understand or articulate' motives for his offending behaviour. The court heard how Collins had learning difficulties and 'struggled to read and write' and needed aid for hospital appointments, including for his hearing problems.
Recorder Harris said the offences were 'serious enough to warrant punishment by immediate imprisonment' but that Collins, who who had an 'unsettled background', had a 'realistic prospect of rehabilitation'.
Collins, of Elmfield Close in St Helens, was given a 'direct alternative' to prison and was handed concurrent community orders for three years, with a rehabilitation requirement of 30 days. Collins will need to complete one to one work with a probation officer to 'educate and prevent' further offending as well as working with the police sexual offences unit.
Recorder Harris said failure to comply would lead to Collins re-appearing before the court. Collins was also ordered to be on the sex offenders register for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was also made. He was also ordered to pay £750 prosecution costs within 12-months and a statutory surcharge.
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