A Coventry-based customs officer opening a parcel found two videos showing naked children. Soon after investigations led to the discovery of more than 22,000 images, mostly of a paedophile nature, on a computer owned by 21-year-old Simon Lister at his home near Truro.

Details of the discovery were given at Truro Crown Court where Lister of Wentworth, Scarsewater Vean, St Clement, had earlier pleaded guilty to 15 charges of making indecent photographs of children.

After hearing from his father, Michael Lister, the deputy head of Camborne-Pool-Redruth College, of the effects of attention deficit hyper-activity syndrome which his son had suffered from the age of 12, Judge Francis Gilbert QC took what he described as an exceptional course and imposed a three-year community rehabilitation order.

"I have seen such photographs in many cases in recent months, showing the most revolting and depraved use of young children," he said. "Almost automatically the courts impose custodial sentences, even on people of previous good character, to deter other people from doing such things.

"While you have not yourself abused young children, putting the images on your computer encourages those who carry out such appalling acts. But having heard from your father I am of the view this is one of the very few cases where an exception can be made."

Tony Randall, prosecuting, told the court that the Coventry officer intercepted a parcel from a USA company, ENature, and local officers were alerted. They found 22,057 images on Lister's computer and more on CD Roms, CDs and floppy discs.

During the search of his bedroom Lister made pertinent comments such as: "There will be stuff on the PC that I should not have."

Mr Randall said that more than 1,000 of the images showed the worst category of sexual abuse of children. Interviewed, Lister admitted having paid 245 dollars for what he thought were videos of a naturist nature.

Simon Laws, defending, stressed that Lister had made admissions and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Lister was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next five years.