Glasgow University student Ezekiel Oladapo, 20, had two video files stored in a communal area of his computer that were accessed by others in his flat.
They reported the find and Oladapo was detained by police after the vile content was discovered.
After taking a laptop, phone and memory stick from his room, analysis showed the teenager had 4409 indecent images and 77 videos.
But he failed to see what the crime was when he was interviewed by police.
Oladapo, from London but living in Drumchapel, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to downloading images between October 2008 and December 2010 and distributing images between November 2010 and December 2010.
Passing sentence yesterday, Sheriff Martin Jones QC told Oladapo his main concern was the distribution of the images.
He ordered the student be supervised for two years on his release from custody.
