A PAEDOPHILE who downloaded 12,696 indecent images of children, some as young as 18 months, has been jailed.

Richard Shurmer, of Albert Street, Banbury, admitted two charges of making indecent images and one charge of breaching a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Michael Roques, prosecuting at Oxford Crown Court, said the 38-year-old had already been convicted of 19 charges of making indecent images at Worcester Crown Court in 2010.

Judge Ian Pringle said that between 4,000 and 5,000 of the images were of the most serious category.

Claire Fraser, defending, said her client suffered from a “schizoid personality disorder” and could be treated for his illness in the community.

But Judge Pringle told Shurmer: “These are real children who are really being abused, and people like you create a market for that.”

Shurmer was made subject to a more strict SOPO, which bars him from privately using the Internet completely, except his TV box.

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