A MAN admitted having thousands of pictures and videos of children as young as two being sexually abused on his devices.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson told Swansea Crown Court that police officers attended Luke Winter’s home in Rhiwfawr on August 4 last year after receiving information that indecent images of children had been downloaded at the address.

“The defendant said that he knew about it and apologised to his mother, who was also present,” Mr Simpson said.

The defendant confirmed that the images were on his devices and gave police the codes to access them.

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Mr Simpson said 799 Category A – the most serious, 319 Category B,  678 Category C indecent images of children were found across a computer tower and two external hard drives – 151 of which were videos.

The images – which had been accessed between November 1, 2016, and August 1 last year – featured children as young as two being abused. One video involved a girl aged between five and seven years old who appeared to be under the influence of drugs as she was raped, Mr Simpson said.

Winter’s internet history also revealed he had searched for terms relating to child sex abuse.

850 prohibited images of children and one extreme pornographic image – depicting bestiality – were also found on his devices.

The court heard that 46-year-old Winter, of Rhiwfawr Road, had no previous convictions.

Judge Huw Rees indicated that the case passed the custody threshold, but that he did not intend to send Winter directly to prison.

Steve Burnell, for Winter, said: “He’s fully willing to comply with any order the court is willing to consider.”

“He understands his position.”

Addressing Winter, Judge Rees said: “Showing an interest in such images as you clearly did creates a demand for further abuse of children.”

He said that these “filthy images” would be online “forever and a day” due to the demand from people like Winter.

“This extends the original trauma suffered by these children who are real victims. They are real people,” Judge Rees said.

Winter was sentenced to a total of 16 months, suspended for two years. He must complete the Maps for Change programme, 180 hours of unpaid work, and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The defendant must register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.