A man found with more than 4,000 indecent images of children told police he knew it was wrong but that it was 'part of the thrill' and that he had an 'addiction'.

Daniel Cartwright, 24, immediately admitted downloading the images after officers searched his home in June 2019.

He said he watched live streams of children and admitted using an app on his iPad.

Cartwright, from Stretford, Trafford, said he 'knew it was wrong and knew he would be caught', Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Officers seized five devices - including his phone, iPad, laptop and two computers - all of which contained indecent images of children.

In total, 912 category A images were discovered - the worst kind - as well as 422 category B and 3,472 category C.

Police also found evidence Cartwright had been sharing an eight-minute video recording of a live stream, which he had taken on his iPad, to a number of websites.

Cartwright pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images; and one offence of possessing an indecent image with a view to distributing to others.

His case was adjourned to June 3 to allow for the preparation of psychiatric reports.

Jon Close earlier told the court police went to Cartwright's home on June 26, 2019.

“He admitted using an app on his iPad and said he knew it was wrong and knew he would be caught and said that was part of the thrill” Mr Close said.

“He said he was addicted to child abuse images. He said he deleted them then would download new images.”

A number of the images found were said to be ‘inaccessible’.

Cartwright used software designed to permanently delete pictures.

The children depicted were said to be aged between one and 15, with the majority aged between nine and 11.

Several of the images showed children in 'obvious distress'.

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“There was an eight minute video taken from a live stream which appears to have been recorded,” Mr Close continued.

“The defendant watched the live stream then recorded it, then uploaded it to a file sharing service called ‘Mega’.”

Cartwright went on to share the link for the file sharing site directly into a number of live streams and chat threads.

Prosecutors said it ‘can’t be said’ how many of the users on the sites had accessed the file.

He had also shared a number of images into a chat called ‘RealPervs’. The site administrator had replied: “I know you share when you can.”

“Following an examination of his internet history, officers found search terms suggesting that he was seeking out abusive images of children and had downloaded from titles referring to children being as young as four, incest, bestiality and anal rape,” Mr Close added.

“The defendant was interviewed and made full and complete admissions.

“He stated he had been viewing such images for a three year period and he also stated that he had a sexual interest in children aged between 13 and 17 and accepted viewing images of children as young as 6.”

Cartwright was said to have no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Colette Renton said her client was ‘incredibly candid’.

“He is a young man who spiralled out of control through his use of the internet.

“He had gone to university to study architecture but his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer so he left.

“He was given the opportunity to go back, but it is a seven year course and he was suffering with his mental health.

“He was in a stable relationship but his partner sadly miscarried and it put too much strain on the relationship which came to an end.

“This contributed to his ongoing issue with depression and other difficulties.

“He is extremely terrified of the thought of facing any kind of custodial sentence.”

Ms Renton added that Cartwright had completed self-help modules online, was receiving counselling and had been prescribed antidepressants.

Cartwright, of Rowsley Road, was granted bail until the next hearing.