A MAN found with hundreds of images depicting the horrific sexual abuse of young children told a judge he “made one big mistake and lost everything”.

Stephen Flack, 51, amassed a collection of images and videos showing the abuse of babies and children as young as two.

Ipswich Crown Court heard the discovery of the sickening haul by police officers in April 2019 had caused Flack to lose his home and his job as a vehicle mechanic.

Officers seized several devices from his Colchester home.

In total, 786 images and 15 videos of the most serious Category A were uncovered, alongside 1,105 images at Category B. Also found were 734 images and 16 videos at Category C.

Joanne Eley, prosecuting, said in some of the images examined by officers, expressions of “clear confusion, distress and pain” could be seen on the faces of young children as they are subjected to sexual abuse.

Ms Eley said: “I understand during the course of the interview he was remorseful and concerned he had let his wife down through this offending.”

Flack, who was unrepresented in court, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children.

Addressing Recorder Heather Rogers QC, he said: “I just made one big mistake and I’ve lost everything.

“I’m homeless and I’m jobless. I have nowhere to go.”

Judge Rogers said a pre-sentence report showed Flack, of no fixed address, was willing to engage with rehabilitation programmes.

She said the prospect of rehabilitation, the two-year lag between the offending and sentencing, and Flack’s circumstances could persuade her to suspend a 16-month prison sentence for 18 months.

He will sign the sex offender’s register for ten years and will remain the subject of a sexual harm prevention order governing his use of electronic devices.

He must complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours unpaid work.