Prosecutor Andy Pickett told Gloucester Crown Court that Brian Smith, aged 44, of Northfield Close, Tetbury had nearly 4,000 images.
Mr Pickett said Smith’s internet activity had been observed during the early part of last year by the National Crime Agency and he was arrested on April 7 by Gloucestershire police.
When Smith’s digital devices were examined, 3,935 indecent images were revealed.
Catherine Spedding, defending said: “Smith currently also has issues with anxiety, insomnia and depression. He said that with the trial concluding today, and provided he keeps his liberty, he will be fit for work.”
Smith admitting making indecent images of a child between August 2, 2021 and April 7, 2022 namely 219 category A images, 260 category B images and 3,456 images of category C at the hearing on Friday, May 6.
Judge Rupert Lowe told Smith: “People who use social media in the way that you did for sharing taboo images tend to be caught. You were one of those.
“You have not been charged with distributing these images, which for you is rather fortunate as you would go to prison for this.
“However, I can only sentence you for what you have been charged with which is making and possessing indecent images of children.
“The pictures are not just fantasy.
“Mostly when people are caught, they often say they have no interest in child sex and just say they were curious.
“However, when you were arrested a year ago, you made unusually frank admissions to what you had been doing.
“In my opinion, people sometimes deserve one chance to turn their lives around.
“This is your one and only chance. Do it again and it will be an immediate prison sentence.”
Smith was sentenced to a 24-month community order which includes 200 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He must pay £425 court costs and a mandatory surcharge.
