Alan John Richardson pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing indecent photographs of children.
Richardson made the images between February 2014 and January last year.
Of the 996 images in total, 156 were category A images – the most severe category – while a total of 86 were category B and 754 were category C.
There were 171 moving images among them.
Richardson last appeared in court on 6 September.
Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, requested that Richardson be released on bail due to health conditions.
The court was told that Richardson had Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and poor mobility.
This morning, the Royal Court heard that he was found unresponsive in his cell on 1 October and was later pronounced dead.
An inquest for Richardson opened on Tuesday (15 October).
The Royal Court heard from a prison healthcare manager who confirmed Richardson’s death.
The Deputy Bailiff, Robert MacRae, vacated the sentencing hearing.
He ordered for the indictment to be endorsed and for Richardson’s file to be closed.