A man was caught by chance with downloaded indecent images of children - aged as young as 18 months - on his mobile phone.
Police visited the address of Brandon Parrish about another matter which ultimately wasn't taken any further.
Nottingham Crown Court heard his mobile phone was seized and set to be returned to him that day.
But it was not when police discovered indecent photographs of children on there.
He had 163 classed as Category A - the most serious; 99 in Category B and 64 in Category C - the least serious.
Almas Ben-Aribia, prosecuting, said the children in the images were aged between 18 months and 14 years old, and they were of both boys and girls.
Parrish, 22, previously of good character, pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs of children.
He is autistic and has mild learning difficulties and has no sexual interest in children, the court heard.
In a report he was described as "having a degree of empathy". His response to the investigation and ongoing proceedings made it clear he did appreciate the gravitas.
Judge John Burgess said part of Parrish's sentence would be a sexual harm prevention order for five years to make sure he did not do anything like this again.
It includes him not having a device capable of accessing the internet, unless it has the capability to show the history.
"You have to make it available for examination," the judge told Parrish, of Calverton Road, Arnold.
"You mustn't delete your internet history. You mustn't have anything that can store images on it. No photos or images of anyone under the age of 16, unless with the consent of the parents.
"No virtual storage facility, unless you are telling the police about it.
"A psychologist thinks you were at low risk of reoffending. I think there is still a risk you might do this again. This is supposed to reduce that risk".
The judge said he knew about Parrish's autism, had read about his vulnerability and his learning difficulty. He noted Parrish had speech therapy as a child, and how dependent he is on his aunt.
Parrish received a two-year community order, 30 rehabilitation activity days "to make sure you don't do anything like this again", added the judge.
He was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and be on the sexual harm prevention order, both for five years.
