Man found with indecent images of children after losing phone at Silverburn

Author: Selena JacksonPublished 20th Aug 2021

A man was snared for having indecent images on his phone after he lost it.

Frederick Steer, 64, had dropped his Sony mobile at Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow on August 1 last year.

The handset was later handed in to security.

The phone rang and a member of staff pressed a button, which suddenly brought up an inappropriate photo of a child.

A number of other similar images were then found.

Prosecutor Claire Wallace told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “Steer went to a phone shop looking flustered and told them his mobile was missing and needed to be blocked.

“He then went to speak to security officers about the phone and they then notified the police.”

Steer, of the city's Pollok, was eventually arrested.

Police found that Steer had eight pornographic images on the phone of children and three video clips.

He pleaded guilty today to having indecent images of children.

Sheriff Paul Crozier differed sentencing till next month and continued his bail.

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