A MAN whose computer contained thousands of 'sick' images and videos of child sex abuse has been jailed for five years.

Richard Holt, aged 50, of Torquay Road, Paignton, was found with up to 60,000 images and more than 500 films of young children and babies being abused after an undercover police operation, Exeter Crown Court heard.

During the course of the investigation, one police officer said the levels of depravity displayed in the images and the videos were 'among the worst he had ever seen'.

Letters from children, along with children's underwear, were also found at his home along with pictures and videos ranging from level one to level five on the scale of child sex abuse.

Holt appeared in court after previously pleading guilty to 11 charges of making, distributing and possessing child sex abuse images.

The charges relate to thousands of images and a collection of videos which were found on his laptop computer anda hard drive after his home was raided by police officers.

They were alerted to his activities after an undercover police officer struck up a conversation with Holt on a peer-to-peer online chat network.

Holt sent the police officer 42 images of child abuse.

During the police raid, a laptop and a hard drive were found containing 60,000 images and 512 videos depicting child sex abuse.

The children, who have not yet been identified, are thought to be aged up to five years old.

Police are investigating to identify the children subjected to the abuse, the court was told.

Prosecuting, Brian Pixton said police found other items at Holt's house which also caused them concern.

He told the court: "There were pairs of knickers, five of which were child-size, and a number of notes and cards from children. The notes had three boy's names and six girl's names on them.

"That is under investigation to ascertain the identity of the children who have been in touch with him."

In mitigation, David Evans said Holt had admitted he was sexually attracted to children and was relieved to have been caught because it meant he could receive treatment for his condition.

Mr Evans said: "If there are any clues to the sparse facts of his existence, there does seem to be some degree of isolation from other adults.

"Perhaps his motivation is in that, plus other, darker problems."

Judge Graham Cottle said the quantity of images and videos found was massive and ordered the forfeiture of all the items seized from Holt's home.

In sentencing him to five years in jail and subjecting him to a sexual prevention order, Judge Cottle told Holt: "You are a substantial risk to children and young people."

The only way the case could be properly dealt with was by a sentence of imprisonment, he said.