Francois Gaudreau. (ROGER GAGNON/QMI Agency, file)

SAGUENAY, Que. -- A former Royal Canadian Air Force captain with 30 years' experience, was sentenced Tuesday to six months in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography.

Francois Gaudreau, who served at CFB Bagotville, Que., was taken into custody following the sentence Tuesday morning in this town 200 km north of Quebec City.

He took early retirement after he was charged last year.

Police found more than 4,500 sexually explicit files on Gaudreau's three personal computers. Detectives seized 2,543 photos and 1,981 videos of boys under the age of 14.

The Crown had asked for a year in jail for Gaudreau, who had pleaded guilty to the crimes. The defence asked for 90 days in jail with community service.

Judge Pierre Lortie said the sheer number of files in Gaudreau's possession was an aggravating factor.

But the judge said he also considered the fact that the former military man co-operated with the police investigation and has undergone therapy.

Gaudreau will be registered as a sex offender and must provide a DNA sample.