A sex offender has been jailed after he was found in possession of more than 17,000 child sexual abuse images.
Lucas Banton, now aged 23, was exposed when an email address linked to him was used to upload two indecent videos of children to the internet.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police attended his home address in February 2023 and seized two electronic devices form his home.
Forensic examination of the one of the devices revealed 60 Category A images and videos – each depicting the most serious sexual offences that can be committed by adults against children.
Banton was charged with multiple offences and remained on police bail as investigations continued.
During a routine monitoring visit nine months later, he confessed to downloading and viewing thousands of other images.
Examination of his mobile phone led to the discovery of nearly 17,000 indecent images – more than 200 of which were graded as Category A.
Banton, of Byron Street, Daybrook, later pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday he was jailed for 33 months.
Detective Constable Peter Chappell, of Nottinghamshire Police’s internet child exploitation team, said: “Behind every one of these images is a real child somewhere in the world who has endured the most appalling sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
“Each has had their childhood stolen from them and each will live with the life-long physical and emotional impact of what has happened to them.
“People like Banton may not be committing this abuse themselves, but they are directly contributing to this suffering by consuming this appalling material.
“As Banton has just found out to his cost, the end result of this behaviour is very likely to be a prison sentence, so I hope this case serves as a warning to others who may be thinking of searching for such material.”
