A MARRIED dad who amassed a collection of more than 15,000 child abuse images was last night behind bars as an experienced investigator said the case had left him sickened.

Computer examiner Ray Savage described one horrific video - which showed a mum and her infant daughter being raped and murdered - as the worst he had seen in 20 years.

Depraved Daniel Fisher shared his vile movies and pictures with other paedophiles around the world from his home in Middlesbrough, Teesside Crown Court was told yesterday (Friday, May 8).

The 45-year-old was locked up for three years after being told by Judge Tony Briggs: "The images are vile and disgusting . . . some of them are of the greatest gravity.

"There were a large amount, all of them disturbing, all of them likely to have involved severe distress, upset, pain and damage to the unfortunate children."

The court heard that Fisher spent hours a day "indiscriminately" downloading the images after putting key search words into his computer - while he watched films.

When experts examined the machine, they found he had file-sharing software and had accepted more than 10,000 requests, and also had a special Facebook picture folder.

In an interview, he was asked how long he had been attracted to children, and answered: "I just see them around and they are getting bonnier. That's all. I don't know."

His barrister Rupert Doswell admitted the images were "disturbing" and said: "He has shown this morning some appreciation of the distress and pain those filmed must have felt."

Mr Doswell said Fisher described it as "an obsession" and added: "He expressed relief at the fact of his arrest, when the police finally discovered this material."

Judge Briggs told him: "There are signs that you do recognise the enormity of your conduct. Hopefully, that's some hope for the future."

Fisher, of Westerdale Road, Middlesbrough, admitted charges of making and distributing indecent images, and possessing prohibited images.