A man who distributed images of child rape has been spared jail after he told a court he had been seeking help for his problems.

Benjamin Symons downloaded pictures and movies of children and babies being abused as well as sharing them with other online perverts.

But having heard the 33-year-old father-of-one had undertaken a course to address his behaviour a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how after receiving intelligence police went to his Royal Wootton Bassett home.

After seizing his computers they arrested the defendant and when he was questioned though he admitted what he had he denied a sexual motive.

Mr Meeke said that along with 54 indecent pictures and movies of children, 14 in the worst category, it was found he had also distributes six.

He told the court that the defendant had also put in terms like preteen hardcore into search engines as he looked for the material.

When he was questioned for a second time he said he was disgusted at himself for what he had done and taken steps to address his behaviour.

Symons, of Buxton Way, admitted making and distributing indecent images of children.

The court heard that while he only had a conviction for drink driving he had a caution for soliciting a prostitute.

Mark Sharman, defending, said that his client had undertaken a course with the Lucy Faithful Foundation which specialises in child safety.

He said that he now accepted he had a sexual motivation for the offending and he realised he needed to get help for that.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Pawson said: "When someone goes online to look for images of children being abused sexually Mr Symons, you may now have a better awareness of what happens somewhere on this planet having gone through the Lucy Faithful Foundation education course.

"You have a child Mr Symons, you too were once a child, somewhere there is a child being forced to do that.

"Because you looked at these images you provide a market, you are in fact encouraging children being abused in the most vile and despicable way Mr Symons."

He imposed a two-year jail term, suspended for 24 months, with a 60-day programme requirement and 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Symons must also pay £600 costs, register as a sex offender for 10 years and abide by a sexual harm prevention order, restricting his liberty.