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A PAEDOPHILE who fantasised about kidnapping Madeleine McCann has walked free after being caught with child abuse images.
Barry Shaw, 38, argued he would lose his spot at university if he was put behind bars.
It comes after Shaw was jailed in 2012 after investigators searching his laptop uncovered the largest collection of indecent images from the most extreme category ever.
The court heard he had fantasised about kidnapping toddler Madeleine McCann and downloaded thousands of horrific child sex abuse images, showing disturbing acts including between adults and children as well as bestiality and sadomasochism.
He has now moved to Southampton and was caught by officers again who discovered he downloaded an image of a teenage girl dressed in stockings and underwear before moving it to the recycle bin of his laptop.
Shaw was convicted at Southampton Crown Court after admitting one count of making an indecent photograph of a child.
Shaw has previously been jailed after fantasising about kidnapping missing toddler Madeleine McCann.
Eve Shelley, defending, said Shaw had "deep-rooted issues" with the images and was estranged from his family.
She said: "He was failing in his studies, that led him to have an increase in his low mood and an increase in his stress.
"The way he dealt with that was to access pornography."
Rose Burns, prosecuting, said Shaw was arrested after a search at his property in July last year. At the time he was already serving a 24-month community order for breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
Judge Gary Burrell QC gave Shaw a 24-month community order and ordered him to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation requirements.
He said Shaw was "addicted to porn and has been for a while".
He added: "The worrying thing is it seems you have a sexual interest in children. That is worrying for the community and those who are close to you.
"Here you are again, with a picture of a little girl dressed up in a bikini or underwear that is of course illegal.
"If you continue to behave like that or access those images you are going to destroy yourself."
The University of Southampton, which is part of the Russell Group, refused to comment after the case and also refused to confirm what Shaw studies.