A man must sign the sex offenders' register after he admitted possessing more than 18,000 illegal images of children.
David Andrew Russell, 36, entered pleas to five offences during an appearance at Carlisle Crown Court today.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children and also possessing a total of 18,289 illegal images of youngsters.
The court heard 57 of the indecent pictures he made were classed in category A - the most serious.
In addition, Russell admitted a charge of distributing indecent photographs of children.
The offences were committed between July 2008 and July 2015.
Judge Peter Hughes QC adjourned the case for a background report to be prepared by the probation service.
Russell, of Nateby, near Kirkby Stephen, was granted bail and is due to be sentenced at the crown court on July 29.
He was told he must sign the sex offenders' register with immediate effect.
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