A paedophile who was found in possession of sickening child abuse images told police he was "just perverted" when caught.
Mark Duffield had over 5,500 indecent images in his possession when officers searched his Peterlee home on October 12, last year.
The 31-year-old immediately owned up to the police, telling them he "knew he would be caught" at some point.
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Duffield appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images between April 13, 2020 and October 3, last year.
The court heard when officers turned up to his home, Duffield said "I'm guilty", and admitted he had been viewing images on his phone.
His Samsung mobile was seized and examined, with 979 category A, 1,336 category B, and 3,200 category C images found.
In interview, Duffield admitted the offences and said he had "no preference as to age" and also said he looked at images involving animals.
He said he looked at the images "often", but claimed not to have a sexual interest in children.
The court heard Duffield, of Polden Close, Peterlee, said he was "just perverted" and "knew he would be caught eventually".
He also said he would delete images out of guilt, but would then download them again.
Lewis Kerr, defending, said Duffield "admitted he's been looking at images of this kind for many years" but was of "relatively good character".
He said he was "able to recognise his criminality" and had had a "somewhat difficult childhood".
Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said Duffield had "tried to conceal" his online activities by using a Tor browser and said he posed a "high risk of harm to children".
Duffield was jailed for 12 months and made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.
He will also be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
