A man who was caught with thousands of images of child abuse on his mobile phone and laptop has been jailed for three and a half years.

Marcin Wojciechowicz who is 34 and from Poland, was arrested last year after he left a USB stick with some of the material in his van.

He told Gardaí he must have downloaded the images by accident while trying to catch paedophiles.

Judge Melanie Greally was told the images depicted sadism and cruelty to young children, including toddlers and infants.

She said she had taken into account his lack of remorse, empathy or insight into the plight of children exploited and abused in such a way.