A PAEDOPHILE who collected hundreds of indecent images of children and animals has been spared jail.

Police arrested Ryan Downes, 42, after being alerted to suspicious downloads from his devices.

After seizing and examining his equipment, the 42-year-old was found to have downloaded 343 category A indecent images, the most severe kind.

Prosecuting, Ed Wilde told Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday that the material also featured movies with children as young as one.

The indecent footage also included animals with one movie involving an animal and a child. 

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Mr Wilde added that upon being interviewed in July 2021, one year after his arrest, Downes said he was not in possession of any images.

He also told police he doesn’t have a sexual interest in children.

Downes, of Abercrombie Gardens, Southampton, was later charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography.

Mitigating, Gaylene Coles said: “He and his parents have described the last two and a half years as a living hell for them.

“This has been an extremely difficult time for them.”

She added that when talking to police, Downes did “try to wriggle out of [it] to some extent” but that he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

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Downes, who lives with his parents, is unable to work after being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and claims benefits which he pays to his parents.

Recorder Daniel Sawyer told him: “Ordinarily this kind of collection of these kind of images means you go straight to prison.”

He added, however, that Downes is a “man of good character up until now” and he is satisfied that he is remorseful.

Downes was given an eight-month sentence suspended for 24 months and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order to last for 10 years.

He was also ordered to carry out 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days, sign on as a sex offender and pay costs of £100.

*The charge of making indecent images can include viewing, downloading or transferring photographs or videos to a device.

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