A pedophile who took sexually explicit photos of two girls and sexually touched one of the girls, has been sent to prison.

In sentencing Bradley Shawn Lemire to 51/2 years on Monday, provincial court Judge John Bascom said "Lemire's fascination with child pornography led to his actions."

Lemire, 48, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation by making child pornography of the girls, one count each of distributing child pornography and sexually touching a girl under the age of 14.

Police had found more than 2,000 images on Lemire's computer, 228 of them of the girls taken on at least 10 occasions. There were also 48 images of one of the girls when Lemire gave his digital photo card to an adult female relative.

"The aggravating factors include the number of images found on the computer and camera," said Bascom. "In three of the four charges, Lemire was in a position of trust and require a minimum jail sentence."

Court heard Lemire inadvertently gave the relative a digital photo card that contained pornographic pictures of the girl, believing there were only images of the her dancing.

Crown prosecutor Jenny Rees, who told court the offender sexually exploited the girls, had sought a prison term of six to eight years.

Defence lawyer Dean Zuk argued for four to five years, saying it was not a commercial endeavour in which the images were intentionally distributed to anyone else.

Bascom previously said sex offender treatment is "absolutely necessary" for Lemire. But he noted the man has had difficulty accepting what he did and if he doesn't "buy into treatment" it won't be successful.

"Clearly, there is a link between child pornography and abuse of those under 18," said the judge. "I would go so far as to say possession alone goes to abuse. If there is no making of child pornography, there is no distribution."

Court heard previously from one girl's mother that there had been rumours among family and friends of Lemire's questionable behaviour around children that caused some to not leave him alone with them.

Bascom gave Lemire two years for making pornography of one girl and 18 months for doing the same to the other girl. He also imposed one year each for possessing the illicit material and sexually touching.

He then gave the offender double credit for just over 18 months spent in custody, leaving him with just under two and a half years to serve.

Lemire must also not attend any public pool, park, school or other venue where children are likely to attend for 10 years after his release.

He must also be registered as a sex offender for life and provide a DNA sample for the national serious offenders databank.