A disabled man was "seeking solace" online as he viewed horrific child abuse images, a court heard.

The sick material viewed online by 33-year-old Neil Monkhouse included a video of a two-year-old girl screaming out in distress as she was raped by her abuser on camera, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

But Monkhouse, of Hallin Crescent, Morton, escaped an immediate jail sentence after a judge ruled that children can be better protected if he gets the treatment he needs in the community.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, said that the indecent images involved were found by police on the defendant's Samsung mobile phone and his Samsung tablet device.

He viewed them over seven days in July last year.

There both still and moving images of child abuse - and 28 of the images were classed as being in the most serious category.

Mr Burke said: "The ages of the children ranged from two to 12 years old. There was a two-year-old girl screaming in pain [as she was being sexually assaulted."

The barrister said that Monkhouse also distributed 67 of the indecent child images he looked at on an online message application which was being looked at by another 20 perverts.

One was using the name "Kiddie Destroyer". "The defendant told one of that participants that he was into rape," said Mr Burke.

When police raided the defendant's home, they found that he was growing five cannabis plants, which led to Monkhouse admitting a cannabis production offence.

Mark Shepherd, for Monkhouse, said the defendant now acknowledged how abhorrent his interest in child pornography was. "He has expressed a desire and motivation to change," said Mr Shepherd.

The lawyer said that Monkhouse had gone online as a result of loneliness and despair at the loss of his independence, which was evidenced by his need now to use a wheelchair.

Mr Shepherd added: "He has sought comfort and solace online."

Judge Peter Hughes QC told the defendant: "I simply can't begin to imagine or understand how anyone can obtain solace from viewing images innocent babies and young children being vilely sexually abused.

"It has to be a warped, sick mind which obtains satisfaction from viewing such images.

"You need to have at the forefront of your mind the fact that these images are of real children, who are likely to be damaged for life by their experience."

The judge imposed a three year community order, with 40 days of rehabilitation, and a Sex Offenders' Treatment Programme.

Monkhouse's name will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years, and he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an unlimited period. The judge said he had considered a 30 month jail term.

He richly deserved that jail sentence but only in the community could he get the intensive treatment he needed to address his problems, added the judge.