Paedophile is spared jail so he can start a FAMILY: Husband caught with more than 137,000 child porn pictures faced five years in prison - but judge let him off after hearing that he wants to become a father

• .Richard Arrowsmith was caught with more than 137,000 child porn images
• .41-year-old was facing up to five years in prison over the indecent pictures
• .But he was spared jail by judge because he said he wanted to start a family
• .He was given suspended sentence and ordered to sign offenders' register

By EMMA GLANFIELD FOR MAILONLINE

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Richard Arrowsmith, 41 (pictured outside court), was facing up to five years in prison but was let-off with a suspended sentence after telling a judge he wanted a family

A paedophile who was caught with more than 137,000 child porn images on his laptop and phone has been spared jail because he wants to start a family.

Richard Arrowsmith, 41, was facing up to five years in prison but was let-off with a suspended sentence after telling a judge he wanted to become a father.

The married man, of Church Gresley, Derbyshire, was arrested after police received a tip off in February that an IP address linked to his Sky account was used to download depraved pictures.

Officers executed a warrant at his home and seized a computer, external hard drive, laptop, mobile phone and USB sticks on April 19 this year.

A court heard a police computerised scanning system flagged up at least 10,000 indecent images and videos on the devices.

But a large number couldn't be categorised due to the sheer amount of movies and pictures - including 4,336 videos and 137,000 images.

Arrowsmith pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos of children when he appeared at Derby Crown Court yesterday.

But he was spared jail after a judge heard he was hoping to start a family with his wife who was still supporting him.

Sentencing Arrowsmith to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, Recorder Martin Butterworth, said: 'You are 41-years-old, with no previous convictions and you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

'There are three charges against you in relation to the possession of indecent images of children.

'I am taking into consideration your previous good character, you have a wife who supports you, a steady employment and your hopes to start a family in the near future.

'These are not victimless crimes, they encourage serious abuse of sometimes very young children.

'You were less than honest about the nature of the images.'

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Arrowsmith pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos of children when he appeared at Derby Crown Court (pictured). He was given a 10-month sentence, suspended

Arrowsmith was also ordered to pay £250 costs and carry out 160 hours of unpaid work as well as being made the subject of a curfew restricting him from leaving his house between 7pm and 5am.

He was also banned from working with children and was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

The court heard police found 400 videos in Category A, which is the worst, with another 255 films in Category B and 186 films and 851 images in Category C.

Overall there were 1,692 movies and images ranging from Category A to C as well as the 4,336 videos and 137,000 images that remained uncategorised.

After he was arrested Arrowsmith admitted to viewing and downloading indecent images of children for 'four or so years'.

But he told police officers he had never distributed or made any images or videos.

Digby Johnson, defending, told the court Arrowsmith and his wife, who was not present in court, were trying for children and wanted to start a family.