A man who downloaded and shared movies of children being raped has been spared jail.

Joshua Nutland had an online Dropbox where he posted vile images and films of child abuse and encouraged like-minded people to do the same.

But after hearing the public would be better protected if the 28-year-old got treatment in the community a judge at Swindon Crown Court imposed a suspended sentence.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told how the Dropbox service providers contacted police when they were aware of what was being stored there.

He said although they reported the matter in December 2016 Nutland was not arrested until March last year, when he initially denied any wrongdoing.

But his phone was seized and police found 46 images and 22 movies of child abuse, with most of the films being in the worst category.

Mr Meeke said most of the material involved young girls aged between eight and 10 years old being abused.

He said although there was evidence of the Dropbox being used it could not be determined what had passed through it.

But it was accepted that it had been used for the distribution of the files between him and other members of a group on a messenger group.

Nutland, of Queens Close, Sutton Benger, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, having extreme pornography and initiating, encouraging or assisting an offence.

Clair Fear, defending, said that her client admits sharing the images by the Dropbox adding he had not been in trouble before and asked for a pre-sentence report.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Pawson said "I don't know whether or not you have turned your mind to it but in order for you to download an image of an eight-year-old child being raped by a man, that has to happen.

"Somewhere on this planet there are children that have been raped so that people like you can receive some sort of sexual gratification and if it wasn't for people like you providing a market for these images then these unspeakable acts would not be perpetrated on vulnerable children.

"So you have contributed directly to the most serious forms of sexual abuse of children, and it is no good saying it is only photographs or it is only a film, it is nothing to do with me. If it wasn't for people like you then these children wouldn't be abused in that fashion."

The judge imposed 16 months suspended for two years with 200 hours of unpaid work, 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and a sex offenders course.

He told Nutland to register as a sex offender for ten years and also abide by a sexual harm prevention order for that time.

Following the case the the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity who looks to prevent the sexual abuse of children across the UK, said: "If you are concerned about what you are looking at online, or the online behaviour of someone you know, you can call the confidential and anonymous ‘Stop It Now’ helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and help to stop. Or visit www.stopitnow.org.uk to find out more."