A MAN who distributed pictures of child rape over the internet has been jailed for 15 months.

Robin Follett shared the vile images with like minded people from the safety of his home in Trowbridge.

But when another pervert was arrested in Hampshire police found a trail leading to the 63-year-old.

And when his machine was examined it was found to have numerous indecent images of children including one he had stored showing the rape of a toddler.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that last year police realised Follett had been sharing material with the other man.

When they went to his house they took two computers and found they contained 36 images in category A, the worst of the three levels, 47 in B and 83 category C.

They also found he had a number of images of extreme pornography involving adults and animals.

Mr Welling said when he was questioned and accepted he had become involved in chat rooms which led to discussions about fantasies and he passed on photos other people sent to him.

The court was told that he had sent out the material on eight occasions between February 2014 and April last year.

Follett, of Yerbury Street, pleaded guilty to distributing and making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.

Robin Shellard, defending, said that the courts often dealt with defendants with many thousands of pictures, which his client did not have.

He said the total amount of images he had was 166, of which 87 were accessible and just 23 had been shared with others.

After his marriage broke down he said he spent far too much time alone on his computer.

But he now lived in accommodation with people of his age, he said, and had a better network of friends to get him out of the house.

Jailing him Judge Simon Carr said: "It is absolutely right to say that sadly the courts often deal with people holding far bigger amounts of images.

"The fact remains that you had 36 images at category A.

"You engaged in chat room conversations. Though I accept a degree of fantasy you also showed an interest in children.

"All of that would be serious enough but you face charges of distribution.

"That distribution is the very backbone of the problem we have on the internet of child abuse images. It is not just that they were there, but that people move them about between people of similar interests.

"I am perfectly clear that those who distribute category A images, especially the rape of children, can expect nothing but prison."

As well as jailing him he said he must register as a sex offender for ten years and also imposed a sexual harm prevention order restricting his liberty.