Durham Crown Court was told 54 were in the most serious category and most were videos rather than stills.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said the images were downloaded from the internet over ten days in November, 2019.

All but one of those on the hard drive of the computer tower were already deleted.

In his police interview Baker admitted having been in possession of the images.

An aggravating feature was the young age of some of the children featured, some who were suffering discernible pain and distress.

Baker, 31, of Scafell Gardens admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

Duncan McReddie, in mitigation, said: “These were viewed for no more than a ten-day period and put out of reach where he didn’t have the technological skill to retrieve them.”

Mr McReddie said the defendant has shown, “a very high degree of candour, which is unusual in this type of case.”

Recorder Carl Gumsley said those who watch, make and download such images help to perpetuate to production of more material, meaning more children are, “grossly abused and violated.”

He made Baker subject of a three-year community order during which he must undergo 40 probation-run rehabilitation activity days and attend up to 90 sex offender work programme days.