Bradley Brackstone, 20, of Thornbury Avenue, Shirley, was handed a suspended sentence when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court.
Brackstone had previously pleaded guilty to one count of distributing an indecent image and three counts of possessing indecent images.
Richard Sampson, prosecuting, said police visited the defendant’s home after Hampshire Constabulary was alerted by the National Crime Agency.
“The defendant became agitated, claiming he had done nothing wrong. He shut himself in the toilet with his phone and made threats to harm himself.”
Mr Sampson said police managed to take the phone off him and examined the device.
It was found to contain more than 80 category A images – the most serious – plus 32 category B images and 233 category C images.
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The court heard that Brackstone suffered from multiple conditions, including autism and ADHD.
Juliet Osborne, mitigating, said he was a vulnerable young man whose father had been absent for most of his life.
Referring to the defendant’s online activity, she added: “His mental disorder must have affected his ability to exercise judgement. He became curious, and this is what led to his offending.”
Brackstone was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institution, suspended for two years.
As part of his sentence he will have to attend 25 days of rehabilitation activity and will also have to undergo mental health treatment.
Brackstone was also made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.
