A paedophile scout leader who hoarded thousands of child porn movies and pictures on his computer has been sent to a secure mental hospital.

Simon Tapsell, 29, was caught by officers from the Metropolitan Police paedophile unit after spending hours surfing sick websites and chatrooms for illicit films and images.

Tapsell appeared at Croydon Crown Court today (Monday) for sentencing but a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service suggested he needed further assessment at a specialist unit.

The paedophile will now spend 12 weeks in the Behavioural Disorder Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Bromley.

The scout master was suspended by the Scout Association when he was arrested by police after amassing the vile collection.

His secret stash included clips of boys and girls as young as six posing naked, masturbating and having sex with each other and adults.

Officers found 6,571 images and 3,358 illegal movies on his personal computer when they raided the home he shared with his parents in Blackhorse Lane, Addiscombe in August 2009.

One of the most serious involved a boy having sex with a dog.

Tapsell, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, pleaded guilty to 18 charges of making and possessing indecent photos of a child at Croydon Crown Court on December 10 last year.

Tapsell is due to appear at Croydon Crown Court again on June 27 for sentencing.