A pensioner who was advised to look at pornography online to help his 'sexual arousal' then downloaded sick child abuse images and had sexual chats with a 'teenage boy'.
Peter Mowl was actually speaking to an undercover police officer, who exposed the 71-year-old as a paedophile.
Mowl had previously received advice to look at pornography on the internet to help with 'sexual arousal' because of medical issues, Manchester Crown Court heard.
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"Even if that is correct, you plainly went far beyond what was advised," a judge told him, as Mowl avoided jail.
The judge said Mowl had already suffered 'significantly' by losing his good name, after his partner split up with him and having to move away from his former home in Stockport.
Mowl began speaking online with the 'boy' and the conversation quickly turned sexual, asking the him intimate questions and sending him a picture of a penis.
"No child was actually put at risk during these particular conversations, albeit I have to say no thanks to you," the judge, Recorder Jeremy Lasker told him.
Police later went to his house in Stockport and seized electronic devices.
Officers found six category A indecent images of children, the most serious category, as well as three category B and 34 category C images.
The children depicted were aged from seven to 12.
"You will have appreciated I am sure, as you viewed and downloaded images of children for you own sexual gratification, that those children were being abused," the judge said.
"Your viewing and your possession of these images really provides support and encouragement for the evil business of child pornography."
Mowl, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images, and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
His barrister Alex Leach QC said Mowl had 'powerful' mitigation, saying that ill health 'triggered' a decline into committing the offences.
Mowl has suffered serious health problems and has been 'very open' in counselling sessions to understand why he committed the crimes.
The judge agreed that there was a prospect of rehabilitation in his case, and spared him jail.
Mowl, of Timken Way, Daventry, Northamptonshire , was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
