A 62-year-old Broughty Ferry man was ordered to be supervised on a community payback order for three years after he was found with almost 300 indecent images and 26 indecent videos of children.
James Adams, of Claypotts Road, also had almost 3,500 extreme pornographic images and 76 extreme pornographic videos on his computer, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
Sheriff Tom Hughes told Adams he must engage with the Tay Project, with conditions that he does not have any contact with children under the age of 17 unless approved by his supervising officer.
He was also told he should not own more than one mobile phone or one computer and cannot join any social networking website without the permission of the supervising officer.
Adams admitted possessing the indecent images between December 2007 and July 2013.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing, between March 2011 and July 2013, images depicting adult females engaged in extreme pornography.
Adams, who has no previous convictions, was found out after police received a tip-off.
The retired civil servant told police he was addicted to pornography and started looking at child abuse images five to six years ago.
He said that although he used his wife’s computer to view the images she was not aware of his habit.
Solicitor Ross Bennett told the court Adams initially got involved through curiosity but realised his actions were wrong.
He said he was full of attrition and the case has had a marked effect on him.
He added that Adams’ marriage had broken down because of the case and said his property was in the process of being sold.
Another condition imposed on him was that he must live in accommodation approved by social workers.
Sheriff Hughes also placed him on the sex offenders register for three years and agreed a Crown motion for forfeiture of the computer equipment, images and a camera.