Edgard Ramirez, a Filipino man in his 30s, pretended to be a 12-year-old girl named Angel to send images of a girl's face and vagina to 40 people through Kik Messenger.

He was caught after baggage inspectors searched his phone and iPad when he returned from a holiday in the US in November 2018.

Officers found 1018 images and videos on the devices, the majority of which included penetrative sex between children and adults, the Victorian County Court heard on Thursday.

Investigators found another 234,000 images on multiple online accounts held by Ramirez under various names.

A sample of an unknown number revealed 5050 files of child abuse material, the majority of which included penetrative sex between children and adults, and bestiality.

Ramirez, a surgical nurse who came to Australia four years ago, revealed he hadn't been looking for the images initially but became "curious" after being sent some.

He later developed a desire to look at the images, began using the images for masturbation and began developing fantasies based on the images.

Judge Irene Lawson said there had been an "intense" period of downloading in the months before he was caught.

"You are perpetrating the harm ... of those children," Judge Lawson said, though the court heard Ramirez was "oblivious" to the role his conduct played in the abuse of children.

She said he was "really ashamed and embarrassed" having to explain his offending to his family but still had their support.

Ramirez pleaded guilty to one charge each of importing, accessing and distributing child pornography.

Judge Lawson sentenced him to three years behind bars, but ordered he be released after one year and nine months on a $1000 bond and two-year good behaviour condition.

Ramirez will be on the sex offender register for life. He's also expected to be deported upon his release.

Australian Associated Press