An obsessive collector dubbed “the million image man” after police discovered stacks of child porn images and movies on his home computers has avoided immediate prison...for the sake of his elderly, dying mother

Robert Barrow, 57, was found to have 901,700 photos and 18,797 movies ranging to the highest level of severity- the largest collection of indecent images recovered by the Metropolitan police.

He also made at least around 160,000 images and 9,000 that he made available for others to download from the internet.

The films and still photographs included horrifying footage of young children being sexually abused and even tortured by adults, Southwark Crown Court heard.

He had obsessively amassed the sickening collection over almost 15 years.

Barrow was arrested after police raided his home in Grange Road, Plaistow, in August, 2010.

Alongside the child porn officers found more than 40,000 empty beer cans and a collection of used transport tickets.

Barrow admitted seven counts of downloading indecent images of children and two of possessing such images with a view to showing or distributing.

Prosecutor Peter Lancaster said that in interview Barrow told officers that he collected numerous items including bubblegum cards and noodle wrappers.

He admitted accessing the images and putting them on the internet for others.

Defending, Andrew Cohen said Barrow traded in beer cans for a living. For the last 15 years an obsession arose with collecting porn.

“The material is irrelevant to him, it’s just the obsession to get more and more.”

He said Barlow is someone who says he has no particular sexual urges with regard to children at all and is someone who in fact has never actually had a sexual relationship because of his obsession. He can’t be physically in contact with other people or naked himself.

“Prison would be complete and utter torture for him,” he said.

Handing Barrow a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Stephen Robbins: “Your mother is 86 and it’s said she is nearing the end of her life suffering from alzheimers and chronic arthritis.

“He is her carer for 24 hours a day.

He said he took account of the guilty plea, the pre-sentence report and numerous medical reports on his mother and her condition.

“This case is totally exceptional because of the condition of your mother.

“I therefore can and will temper justice with mercy, not to you, but to your very sick mother.”

Barrow must also abide by a 7pm-7am curfew.

He will also be subject to a two year supervision order, must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, and must complete sex offender’s treatment programme.

Judge Stephen Robbins QC handed him a suspended jail sentence so he can care for his 86-year-old dying mother.