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A paedophile who had hundreds of disturbing images of children as young as two and three has been spared jail.

Pervert Mark Kirby, 30, password protected the collection of images with the words 'I love child porn'.

Police discovered the vile library of hundreds of pictures and 29 videos when they raided his home in Leek, Staffs., last April.

Three computer discs were seized which Kirby had locked with the password 'I love CP' - abbreviated for 'Child Porn'.

(Image: Stoke Sentinel)

Kirby was handed a three-year community order after he admitted possessing and making indecent images of children at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge Paul Glenn said: "When you were arrested on April 20 three discs were found and two of them were encrypted and contained images of children.

"Some of the children are very young indeed.

"You had made folders and you would not disclose the password which was later found to be 'I love CP' which speaks for itself.

"You are said to be genuinely remorseful. If you break the community order you will go to prison."

Kirby has also been handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from a range of activities and he must attend a sex offenders' programme and pay £250 costs.

Prosecutor Kevin Jones said: "The defendant's home was searched on April 20 and

the police seized a number of digital devices.

"They included a number of CDs and DVDs and some of them were password protected."

Arif Hussain, defending, said: "The defendant fully accepts the case against him.

"It started off with him accessing adult pornography and then moving onto child pornography.

"He said he knew it was wrong and he is disgusted with himself.

"He accepts it became habitual and addictive. He does ask for help, he does need help and he is asking for that.

"He has expressed remorse and is someone who is capable of working with the probation service."