A PERVERT pensioner, and ex-Royal Air Force staffer, caught with more than 16,000 images of vile child sex abuse has been spared jail.

Stephen Herring had already admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing prohibited images.

The 71-year-old of Rose Close, Carterton, appeared at Oxford Crown Court to be sentenced today.

Outlining the case at the hearing prosecutor Robert Lindsey said police first raided Herring's home on November 6 2018.

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While officers were there Herring told police 'I have looked at images' and an Acer laptop and external hard drive was seized.

On analysing the devices a huge stash of banned images of children was discovered.

In total he was found to have 119 images in the most severe category - A, 273 in category B and 15,773 in category C.

He was also found to have 116 prohibited images.

Prosecutors said the images depicted sex abuse involving children as young as four.

In mitigation defence barrister Patricia Lloyd said her client - a former RAF employee - was a man of previous 'exemplary good character' with no other previous convictions.

She added that the 'remorse and shame are very deeply felt.'

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said Herring 'encouraged the most appalling abuse of children.'

Herring was handed a 16-month jail term which was suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days as well as sign the sex offenders register.

Court costs of £425 was also ordered at the hearing and he must pay a statutory victim surcharge.