AN ABINGDON man was spared prison after pleading guilty to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children.

Andrew Thomson, 40, of Norris Close, was sentenced for possessing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography and one count of making indecent images of children.

He had also pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, relating to a series of internet conversations with a 15-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Andrew Grainger told Oxford Crown Court Thomson had posed as a bisexual girl on the internet and sent messages to the girl between January 2010 and January this year.

Some of the messages were “of a sexual nature”. Thomson, who has suffered depression, also had numerous other email addresses, the court heard on Friday.

More than 1,000 images found on his computer were level one.

Thomson was also sentenced for making 58 indecent images of children between March and July 2011.

Recorder Andrew Burrows said prison “does not seem to me to be the best action to protect the public in the future, thinking especially of children”.

Thomson was given a three year community order and supervision order, requiring him to attend a police course for sexual offenders.

He must also sign the sex offenders’ register.