A paedophile who downloaded more than 2,000 indecent images of children and shared them with others has been jailed.
Police stormed the home of twisted Paul Redford, from Ramsgate, after they received information that child sex abuse images were being accessed from an address in Melbourne Avenue.
The 64-year-old admitted he was responsible when officers told him why they were there on March 1 last year.
But after his phone was downloaded, officers uncovered 730 of category A images and videos – the most extreme content.
Officers also discovered more than 640 category B and almost 950 category C.
In a further disturbing find, they also found he had distributed 40 images and videos through a social media application.
Redford was later charged with making and distributing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography and prohibited items.
He pleaded guilty to the offences and at Canterbury Crown Court last Thursday and was jailed for two years and four months.
He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is subject to strict sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.
Investigating officer Det Con Annalisa Bevans said: “The children depicted in indecent images are real children and the crimes committed against them are extremely serious.
“Redford admitted he was looking at the images for a sexual purpose and he was complicit in the abuse.
“Investigations like this one are designed to protect vulnerable children by tracking down those who would exploit them via the internet.
“The jail term Redford received, along with the court orders put in place, will prevent him from accessing or sharing such images again.”
