A TEENAGER who downloaded thousands of indecent images of children was caught when his laptop was sent off for repair.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Carl Stephenson had been bought his Dell laptop as a Christmas present by his father.

But while still under warranty users were unable to access content and it was sent off for repair.

Andrew Macintosh, prosecuting, told the court how, in May last year, a member of staff at MCS Technology in Hampshire was investigating the fault and managed play video footage stored on the machine.

"The video he had chosen showed sexually explicit pictures of young children," said Mr Macintosh.

He informed his supervisor, police were contacted and Stephen was traced via his purchase receipt.

When officers visited Stephenson's home in Morley Road, Radcliffe, on June 11 the former Bolton College student admitted he possessed child porn and handed over a Samsung tablet, a mobile phone, a memory card and memory stick.

A total of 19,420 indecent photographs and videos of children were identified. Among them were 212 videos and 506 photographs which were rated as falling into the most serious A category and some of which involved children aged between six and 10 years.

When interviewed by police Stephenson told them he had been accessing porn in the internet since he was aged 14.

"He said he had originally accessed images of adults and then discovered images of children," said Mr Macintosh.

Stephenson admitted he had become addicted to porn.

The 19-year-old, now of Barlow Fold Close, Bury, pleaded guilty to three counts of making and one count of possessing indecent images of children.

The court heard the apprentice motor mechanic, who wept in the dock, comes from a good family and has no previous convictions.

Nicholas Ross, defending, said: "Much of what he did was committed when he was a youth. This defendant, his family and his parents are devastated.

"He was brutally honest with the police which is encouraging in terms of his rehabilitation."

He added that Stephenson is remorseful, has an insight into the seriousness of his crime and is aware that, although he has not created the videos and images, the children shown are victims.

Judge Graeme Smith told Stephenson that his offences justified the imposition of a prison sentence, but it would not enable him to have the help he needs and would not protect the public from him in future.

Instead Stephenson was sentenced to a three year community order during which he must participate in a sex offenders' treatment programme and undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

"It is, by no stretch of the imagination, an easy option," Judge Smith warned him.

Stephenson was also placed on the sex offenders' register and a sexual harm prevention order was made which will last for 10 years and includes restrictions on his computer use.