Ian David Blundell, 31, of Morwell, downloaded 56,767 pornographic images, 1608 videos and 963 documents and stories depicting child pornography over three years between 2005 and 2008.

Victorian County Court judge Sue Pullen on Monday described the pornography as ``the most depraved and disgusting kind'' and being of the worst kind of sexual exploitation of children, some of whom were babies.

``The images I viewed were distressing,'' Judge Pullen said.

``It is hard to adequately describe the depravity.''

The judge said the pornographic material was in the ``worst category'' of its kind and the hundreds of victims were further degraded when it was viewed.

``(There were) infants, children and teenagers publicly displayed in the most vile way,'' she said.

Blundell, a disability support pensioner, accessed the material at home and locked himself in his bedroom to do so, the court heard.

In sentencing, Judge Pullen said she took into account Blundell's early guilty plea, but that she had ``ongoing concerns'' for his rehabilitation prospects.

She said it had been difficult for psychiatrists to assess Blundell's state because he denied that he had any deviant fantasies and refused to speak about his offending behaviour.

Judge Pullen said the courts had to reflect the community's outrage at such offences in sentencing child pornography offenders.

Blundell, who is illiterate, was caught when police raided his home.

He will be eligible for parole in three years and will be a registered sex offender for life.

- THE AGE