Aaron LeDean, 36, was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and also ordered to undergo two years of supervision.

He was told by a judge he would get more help in the community than he would if he was put behind bars.

LeDean, of Navigation Point, Hartlepool, was also told to sign up to an internet sex offenders' programme.

Teesside Crown Court heard how police raided the teacher's quayside flat in March last year and he handed over a pile of computer discs and his laptop.

A total of 3,925 indecent images and video clips involving children as young as eight were found.

The internet history of the computer also revealed that LeDean had accessed child porn sites and took part in chatroom exchanges.

The court heard that LeDean had worked at St Michael's RC Comprehensive School, in Billingham, for seven years.

Barristers for the prosecution and defence, as well as education chiefs, said there was no link between the offences and the school.

Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said LeDean travelled to London after his arrest and took an overdose of paracetamol before sending farewell text messages to his family.

He spent six days in a London hospital before being transferred to the University Hospital of Hartlepool for five days and then St Luke's, in Middlesbrough.

Mr Cleasby said: "There have never been suggestions there was ever anything improper in his conduct towards any of the people in his care.

"He never departed from the highest standards of propriety when he was in his employment."

St Michael's headteacher Joe White said after the case: "I was immediately assured that matters related solely to Mr LeDean's activities outside school.

"Subsequent checks have confirmed there is no link with the school other than Mr LeDean being a former employee."

LeDean, of Navigation Point, admitted 16 counts of making indecent images of children between February 2006 and March last year, and possessing 3,909 images and pseudo photographs.

Judge Tony Briggs, who also ordered LeDean to sign on the sex offenders' register for 10 years, said an immediate nine-month sentence would not allow enough time for treatment in prison.

"Be under no illusion that you committed a series of serious offences which, in the normal course of events, would attract immediate custody."