A PAEDOPHILE caught with thousands of indecent images of youngsters has avoided jail.

Michael John Edward Bunker was caught with 11,710 still images and 427 video clips of children.

These ranged from category A - the most serious - to category C.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court he was charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children and a single count of possessing to show indecent photographs of a child.

The 57-year-old of Leigh Road, Eastleigh, pleaded guilty to the offences that happened between 2018 and 2020.

He was jailed for two years, suspended for 24-months.

He must complete 40 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Bunker has been made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for the same period