A PORNOGRAPHY 'addict' from Minehead who downloaded over two million indecent images of children on his computers has been spared a prison sentence.

Edward Brooks, 50, of Hayfield Road, Alcombe, created his collection over a decade from February 2006 to February 2016 and even added to it while on bail, which led to his remand in custody.

Taunton Crown Court was told there were too many images for prosecutors to view and categorise, but of the videos there were 682 of the most-serious Category A, 523 of Category B and 3,613 Category C.

Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, said images were found on two computer hard drives hidden in a wall cavity at his father's address. 

He told investigators he had been accessing material over a number of years and the images were of girls aged 8-16 and mostly of 12-16.

He pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and Catherine Flint, defending, said he had been honest and frank to the police. 

Judge David Ticehurst commented “It's difficult to be anything else when they found that material”.

Miss Flint said his time on remand had been a shock to him and “his behaviour is that of an addict”, His re-offending while on bail was evidence of his compulsive nature.

The judge continued: “It's people like you who lead to young girls being abused in that way. If it weren't for people like you these offences would not be committed and these young children would not be abused in such an horrific way."

Referring to pre-sentence reports the judge said Brooks had said he did not regard the children as being human, which he denied in court. 

The judge added: “They're real children with real feelings and real emotions and, no doubt, psychological and emotional harm which will remain with them for the rest of their lives – and you are responsible for that harm. 

"I accept you are addicted to this sort of material and it's clear that it's some form of disturbed compulsion that you have”.

He said that a prison sentence under legal guidelines would be about two years, of which he would serve half, less the time already spent in custody, which would not be in the best public interest because 'you would undoubtedly come out and start all over again'.

He sentenced Brooks to two years suspended for two years along with a sexual offences treatment programme and a rehabilitation activity requirement for two years and warned: "If you do it again you are looking at a sentence of four to five years.”

He also made a sexual harm prevention order and forfeiture of the computer equipment.

An NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: “From the volume and severity of the images found in his possession, it’s clear that Brooks’ depravity knows no bounds.

“The sexual harm prevention order imposed in this case must be policed effectively to aid his rehabilitation and to prevent any further repeats of his offending. 

“More needs to be done to tackle the vile trade in indecent images of children and to cut this material off at the source.”

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free 24/7 on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline on 0800 1111.