A sound engineer from Clevedon with an "entrenched attraction " to youngsters who downloaded more than 31,500 indecent images of children has been jailed.
Terrence Hayward, 71, admitted 10 charges of making indecent images, which included 324 videos.
The offending took place between July 2005 and November 2017, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Judge James Patrick was told Hayward, of Cherry Avenue, had a history of offending but he was last sentenced for a crime two decades ago.
The judge jailed him for 18 months.
He told Hayward: "When arrested you made very limited admissions.
"Your interest in children is entrenched.
"You little understand the effect these images have had.
"The images are circulated around the world for the sexual gratification of people like you."
Hayward was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from unchecked internet use.
Alex Daymund, prosecuting, said Hayward's antics were rumbled by the USA-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
Police who then knocked on his door found he had 31,583 still indecent images of children and 324 indecent videos of children.
A total of 2,309 stills and 121 videos were deemed to be in highest abuse category A.
Initially Hayward largely made no comment.
He said he had bought some computer equipment after 2017, but it was established he had owned it longer.
Harry Ahuja, defending, said his client was jailed for three years in 1999 for indecent assault and making indecent images.
Mr Ahuja said his client had not done rehabilitation work and had come out of prison with the same attitudes.
Mr Ahuja told the court: "He has been very open in saying that his attitudes and unfortunate desires and attraction to children has remained."
The court heard Hayward had completed an online module with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.
The foundation is a charity which works to prevent child sexual abuse.
Their spokeswoman said: “If you are concerned about what you are looking at online, or the online behaviour of someone you know, you can call the confidential and anonymous ‘Stop It Now’ helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and help to stop."
You can also visit the charity's website to find out more.
