Before the case was in court in Winchester Chaffey was confronted and berated in an expletive-laden tirade by his brother in the public area outside the courtroom. The brother said: “You are an embarrassment to the family, a disgrace, a waste of breath.”

To other members of the public, he said: “He is a paedo, remember his face”, before he was escorted out of the Law Courts by security.

Later, Graham Gilbert, prosecuting, told the court that Chaffey, 49, of Meryon Road, Alresford, had admitted eight offences, seven involving indecent images, many of children aged as young as four or five years, numbering in total around 6,000.

He was caught when UK border security opened a package from China and found the latex sex doll with Chaffey’s address on April 3 2021. Chaffey was arrested on April 19.

Mr Gilbert said the doll cost £350, was about three feet high but did have adult female breasts.

Chaffey’s history of sex offending, including indecent assault, indecent exposure and soliciting, which goes back to 1994

Sentencing, the judge, Mr Recorder Charles Longley, told Chaffey that he clearly has a sexual interest in children and many of the images were “quite appalling. These are real children not images and it causes real damage to children.”

But now was the time to give him help in controlling those feelings. Chaffey was jailed for 24 months but the sentence was suspended for 24 months.

He was ordered to attend a sex offenders’ treatment programme with a rehabilitation activity requirement for up to 30 days and undertake 200 hours unpaid work.

He must also pay a £140 surcharge and £340 costs within three months.