A PAEDOPHILE who downloaded more than 500 indecent images of children onto his laptop has been jailed.

Luke Smith, 36, viewed a total of 592 indecent photos of youths including children as young as four, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday [August 23].

Among the images were 146 in the level 4 category involving abuse between adults and children and two in the most serious category level 5.

Police examined his computer following an incident in Newport on September 15, the court heard.

But an allegation which led to his arrest that day was not proceeded with, Crown prosecutor Nick Gedge told the court.

Sentencing Smith to 10 months in prison, Judge Daniel Williams told him: "Downloading such images I'm sure you're aware perpetuates their market and their making.

Behind each image, there is a real child and a real crime."

Smith, of The Common, Woolaston, Lydney, Gloucestershire, admitted a total of 18 offences committed between January 2010 and September 2012.

Defence barrister, Harry Baker, said his client had committed the offences by browsing adult pornography and had become "desensitised".

He stressed that Smith was a man of "good character" with no previous convictions and had looked after his father who suffered from ill health.

Smith pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent photos of children.

He got three months for count one to six, six months for count seven to 10 and 10 months for counts 11 to 16, all to run concurrently.

He also admitted one count of possessing extreme pornographic images for which he got three months, to run concurrently.

And he pleaded guilty to one count of possessing indecent images of children for which he got 10 months, also to run concurrently.

Judge Williams imposed a sexual offences' prevention order and said Smith would have to serve at least half his sentence in prison before he could be released on licence.