A Royal Navy lieutenant who collected thousands of child abuse images for almost a decade has been spared jail, after the court heard he was an "honourable and disciplined man".

James Smith, 35, was caught with more than 3,000 images of children as young as two years old, including 36 of the most serious Category A images and four Category A videos.

He also chatted on an internet channel hosted by two people who had been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences, Truro Crown Court heard.

Police stormed his home in Truro, Cornwall, in July last year and seized his phone and laptop after being tipped off by colleagues in Western Australia who were working on an international child abuse investigation.

Smith said he was relieved that officers had intervened so he could get help. He admitted three charges of making indecent images of children.

But he was spared jail and instead handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement lasting 30 days and was made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

Nicholas Wragg, the barrister defending Smith, said his career in the Navy was "in serious jeopardy" and he and his family have "suffered".