A paedophile’s “vile and repulsive” stash of child pornography was uncovered after he chatted on the internet about abducting and raping youngsters.

Terence Firth, 58, was part of a paedophile network discussing the sexual abuse of young children and even babies, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Firth was jailed for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to 21 offences of possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children.

Judge Jonathan Rose told him: “Even in the sordid world of paedophilia, you scrape below the bottom of the barrel.”

The court was told Firth was arrested in October 2007 when the police raided his home on Clayton Lane, Clayton, Bradford, and seized his computer.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore said Firth came to the attention of Hampshire Police when they were investigating a nationwide paedophile chatroom ring.

He was part of discussions on the internet about the abduction, rape and sexual abuse of children.

Two men from the south of England were also arrested as part of the investigation.

Miss Gilmore said the images stored on Firth’s computer included babies being raped.

Firth admitted to the police he talked about the abuse of children. He had even explored the idea of having sex with grandchildren he did not have.

Judge Rose told burly, bearded, Firth that his offences were “vile and repulsive”.

The images were so disgusting and appalling that the prosecutor did not read out details of them in court. They included children up to 12 years old and, most disgracefully, babies, said the judge, who branded the offences “utterly beyond comprehension”.

Speaking of the images he had viewed, he continued: “The public would be appalled if they had seen what I have seen today.”

The judge said the public would be equally appalled if Firth escaped a jail sentence.

Firth must also register with the police as a sex offender for ten years. He was made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order strictly limiting his use of computers.

In mitigation, Firth’s barrister, Sukhbir Bassra, said his client had worked throughout his life and brought up a family.

He turned to pornography when he was at an all time low and suffering from psychiatric problems.

“He would never in his right mind do such a thing,” Mr Bassra said.

He was ashamed and had distanced himself from his family by leaving his home and moving out of Bradford.