A DEPRAVED paedophile caught with more than 1,000 images of child sex abuse has been spared jail.

66-year-old Francis Goffe had downloaded indecent images of children and babies as young as one.

Goffe, of Croft Road, Thame, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

He appeared behind the dock at Oxford Crown Court to be sentenced yesterday.

Outlining the case prosecutor Alexandra Bull said Goffe was first intercepted by officers after failing to notify them he was travelling abroad.

READ ALSO: Black Lives Matter: hundreds of people protest in South Park, Oxford.

Police went on to raid his Thame home on two occasions last year.

As a result of those searches a USB and laptop was seized, which uncovered hundreds of banned images of children.

In total he was found to have 182 images in the most severe category - A.

He also had 99 images in category B and 791 in category C.

The total haul of images was 1,072 images and they featured children and babies aged from 12 months to 15 years.

The court also heard that Goffe has 27 previous convictions, including for offences of making indecent images and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

In mitigation defence barrister Guy Wyatt said that his client 'can benefit from some help' and from 'external intervention.'

He added that Wyatt enjoyed a long standing relationship and was supported by his wife.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb, said the offending created a 'legacy of suffering' for the child victims.

She handed Goffe a 15-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years.

As part of that sentence he must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.