A PERVERT who shared videos and photographs of child abuse online has been locked up for two years.

Jake Cresswell was said to have been addicted to the disturbing material and had been searching for it and storing it on his mobile phone since he was 15 or 16.

Cresswell, 20, had almost 3,000 prohibited images of children and 74 of extreme pornography when his computer and phone were searched.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said there were 2,960 pictures and movie clips of abuse – almost 1,300 in the most serious category – and the youngest child depicted was just three months old.

Judge Sean Morris heard how Cresswell discussed his fantasies online with other users, and sent images to someone he believed to be a woman aged 21 in the United States.

In one exchange, he said he would like to have a child of his own so he could abuse it, and he hoped to meet a youngster in the street and be seduced.

Mr Hadfield said Cresswell was banned from using a file sharing programme because of his illegal activity.

When he was arrested, he said he was “repulsed” when he first started viewing the material, but the longer it went on the less of an impact it had on him.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said: “On the face of it, this is the worst example of child pornography. There are an alarming number of category A images and videos, and in that regard there could be no criticism of Your Honour or surprise on behalf of the defendant if he were to be sent immediately to prison.

“On the face of it, this offending is deserving of that course. At the other end of the spectrum there are other considerations. He is a relatively young man, entered guilty pleas at the first hearing and you are dealing with a man with no previous convictions.”

Mr Mochrie said Cresswell has led an isolated life and suffers from anxiety and depression.

Cresswell, of The Hills, Skelton, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to three charges each of making and distributing indecent images, possessing extreme pornography and possessing prohibited images.

Judge Morris told him: “You involved yourself in internet exchanges with like-minded individuals who get thrills out of seeing extremely young children abused. It is quite clear you have problems in your life, but this was a serious case, and only your age stops me going above the starting point.”