The Former Families SA employee was caught after Danish police busted one of his associates

to up to 35 years in the South Australian District Court on Friday

A former childcare worker who admitted to multiple child sex and child pornography offences has been jailed for up to 35 years.

In sentencing Shannon Grant McCoole, 33, in the South Australian District Court, judge Paul Rice described him as 'sickening and depraved'.

McCoole pleaded guilty in February to multiple child sex offences committed over a three-year period from mid-2011 against young boys and girls under his care.

Shannon Grant McCoole has been jailed for up to 35 years after admitting to multiple child sex and child pornography offences

Families and supporters of victims filled the court's public gallery, and some cheered and clapped as the sentence was handed down.

'The nature and extent of the offending is depraved and sickening in the extreme,' South Australian District Court Judge Paul Rice said during sentencing on Friday.

"It is not easy to put into words the seriousness of your offending," Judge Rice said.

"What would incline you to do such a thing is far beyond my comprehension. There are those who would describe your actions as sick, but I prefer evil and depraved."

McCoole was entitled to a 40 percent discount on his sentence as a result of his guilty plea, but this was reduced to 30 percent in sentencing.

In a previous appearance, relatives of some of his victims told how his offending had inflicted a 'lifetime of pain' on so many people. Some of his victims were infants, one as young as 18 months old.

Australian police discovered McCoole's organisation with the help of European police in May 2014

The former Families SA employee was the head administrator of a website containing more than 50,000 images of child porn he distributed to other paedophiles

The court had previously heard McCoole the head administrator of a website containing more than 50,000 images of child porn he distributed to other paedophiles.

The site was used by at least 1000 pedophiles around the world, with whom McCoole coached on child abuse.

Australian police discovered McCoole's organisation with the help of European police in May 2014, shortly before he was arrested for offences against seven children, six of whom were in his care.

When police raided McCoole's home they found more than 53,000 child pornography images, many of which depicted his own depraved abuse.

Shocking details soon after emerged of of McCoole's ring, which required 'members' to share new images at least once a month or be kicked out of the group.

Members who posted more images rose higher in the group, which according to court documents, included 'thousands' of people.

A woman linked to one of the victims said she had never encountered anyone like McCoole.