Jordayne Madams was in court for possessing child sex-abuse images and a terrorism handbook.

A man found with videos of Isis executions and a book giving instructions on how to make bombs developed an intense interest in the terrorist group and made videos calling for attacks on tyrants.

A recent Asperger's syndrome diagnosis was a big reason why Jordayne Evan Thomas Madams was not sent to jail for possessing the material.

He also made videos calling for attacks on "tyrants" and those who had attacked mosques in Canada and Texas – but was not charged with offences relating to them.

STUFF Jordayne Madams' Asperger's syndrome caused him to became fixated.

Madams was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court on Monday to six months' community detention and two years' intensive supervision for possessing child sex abuse videos and images, and terrorism material.

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The material, found by police when they searched his house in November, included a text file of The Terrorist's Handbook, which gives instructions on how to assemble bombs and explosives.

He also had 68 images promoting Isis, and propaganda videos featuring prisoners having their throats cut and people being executed by gunfire.

Judge Stephanie Edwards said forensic psychiatrist Dr Justin Barry-Walsh found Madams suffered from Asperger's syndrome.

It caused people to fixate intently on topics, then go off them – something that had happened in Madams' past with things such as dinosaurs, the judge said.

"He has had previous interest in other religions. As part of that he has been able to learn about the background [of Islam] and learn the Arabic language.

"This is an intelligent young man whose energies need to be focused on the positive things."

Someone else found with the same material could look at a starting sentence of 21 months' jail, the judge said. However, there was a question about how Madams' diagnosis affected the intent behind his offending.

His Asperger's syndrome, age, lack of previous convictions, early guilty pleas and genuine remorse all played a part in his sentence being lowered.

He would have been sentenced to 10½ months' jail, or five months' home detention, if it were not for his mental health problems.

As part of his sentence, Madams cannot have contact with people younger than 16 without supervision from an approved adult.

He is also banned from possessing firearms, material promoting the destruction of or for religious groups, and devices capable of accessing the internet or photographs and films.

Police did not apply for Madams to be put on the child sex offender register for the sex abuse images, and the judge did not put him on it, saying he did not meet the threshold.

VIDEOS, FACEBOOK POSTS MADE CALLING FOR ATTACKS

Although Madams was only charged with possessing objectionable material, he also produced and shared propaganda videos.

The videos have since been deleted from YouTube. The judge said Madams called for the viewers to "wage jihad against tyrants for the sake of Allah and Islam" in one video.

In the other, he talked of retaliating for the attacks against Muslims killed in January attacks on mosques in Texas and Canada.

He shared the videos on Facebook, the judge said.

A police spokeswoman said the video formed part of their investigation, but not any charges.

Madams also made various Facebook posts about terrorism activities, using an account with an Arabic name.

In one post, which has been deleted, he called for Islamic State to spread throughout the world.

"In times like this, it's time to establish the Islamic State in every country," he wrote. "It is time we must defend our religion with our lives. No more protesting, it's time for Jihad."

In a different post he said Islam would "dominate the world".​