A man who had thousands of child sex images on his computer has been sentenced to home detention.

Jason Oliver narrowly avoided a jail term when he appeared for sentencing in the Wellington District Court today.

Police found 1700 images and videos of children being sexually abused, tortured and exploited when his computer was seized.

Judge Barbara Morris said Oliver accepted his offending and shouldn't have his promising future unduly affected.

She sentenced him to seven months home detention and 300 hours community work.