Long lonely hours on the Internet led a Merritt man into the dark and devastating world of child pornography, a judge heard Friday.

Kenneth Nelson, 44, was described in court as a shy, socially dysfunctional loner. Lawyer John Hogg said Nelson was bullied from childhood, to the point he withdrew and stopped seeking friends.

In his home, he would spend hours with his only companion — his computer and the Internet — which led him to adult pornography, then more seriously, to child pornography.

“This is how these addictions occur,” said Hogg. “People sit alone for hours on their computer.

“He is a shy fellow. His social and personal skills have been stifled by the computer. They have been stifled a long time.”

Nelson was convicted of possession of child pornography after a trial in provincial court. He was jailed six months.

During the sentence hearing, prosecutor Iain Currie described the nature of the 149 video files found on Nelson's computer, saying they showed graphic and repeated abuse of children.

The videos were up to 14 minutes long and depicted full sexual activity between men and young girls, he said.

“Mr. Nelson has provided a market for the abuse of children, an incentive for people who violate children, and that is the reason underlying the rather stern sentences imposed for these sorts of offences,” the prosecutor said.

The Crown asked the court for nine months in jail.

Hogg, on the other hand, suggested 90 days in prison, to be served on weekends. Nelson has a job he wants to keep and is heavily involved in caring for his elderly infirm parents.

The lawyer said Nelson has always been sorry for what he did.

“He understands the harm done,” said Hogg.

“He was almost glad he was found, and his attitude displayed it,” the lawyer said, telling the judge his client admitted to police he knew he had a problem.

Nelson always felt sorry for the children he watched, the court was told. The videos he downloaded came from eastern European countries.

Nelson told police: “I want to take those fathers and strangle their necks.”

A probation officer noted in a report that Nelson only felt empathy for the children after he sexually satisfied himself. As well, he returned to the material again and again, Judge Terry Shupe pointed out.

The sentence in this case must send a message to others, Shupe said. While there is no doubt an intermittent sentence would benefit Nelson, it would not properly address society's concern and abhorrence for a crime that preys on society's most vulnerable victims.

Nelson must also serve three months probation and register with authorities for 10 years as a sexual offender.

At the time he was arrested, Nelson worked as a Shaw Cable vide technician, and occasionally taught high school students video editing skills.