A paedophile who downloaded a vast stash of obscene pictures of children has been spared jail - so he can become a dad.

Richard Arrowsmith was found to have a staggering 137,000 pictures and 4,336 videos of child abuse that he had collected for four years and faced up to five years in prison.

However, he was let off with a suspended sentence after a court heard how he wanted to start a family.

Arrowsmith was arrested in February after police received a tip off that the illegal images were downloaded on his Sky account.

His computer, external hard drive, laptop, mobile phone and USB sticks were seized in April and he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos of children when he appeared at Derby Crown Court.

Police found 400 videos in Category A, which is the most extreme, with another 255 films in Category B and 186 films and 851 images in Category C.

There were 1,692 movies and images ranging from Category A to C as well as the 4,336 videos and 137,000 images that remained uncategorised.

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Spared: Arrowsmith faced a possible five-year prison sentence (SWNS)

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Sentencing Arrowsmith to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, Recorder Martin Butterworth, said: “You are 41 years old, with no previous convictions and you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“There are three charges against you in relation to the possession of indecent images of children.

“I am taking into consideration your previous good character, you have a wife who supports you, a steady employment and your hopes to start a family in the near future.

“These are not victimless crimes, they encourage serious abuse of sometimes very young children.

“You were less than honest about the nature of the images.”

Digby Johnson, defending, told the court Arrowsmith and his wife, who was not present in court, were trying for children and wanted to start a family.

Arrowsmith, of Church Gresley, Derbyshire, was ordered to pay £250 costs and carry out 160 hours of unpaid work as well as being made the subject of a curfew restricting him from leaving his house between 7pm and 5am.

He is also banned from working with children and was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register.

Top pic: SWNS