Berwickshire shellfish worker caught with almost 13,000 indecent images of children avoids jail
Last updated 17th Jun 2024
A 36-year-old man from Berwickshire caught in possession of more than 12,000 indecent images of children has avoided a jail sentence.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard Scott Forman, who gave an address in Foulden, began viewing and downloading the images in October 2022.
His solicitor, Ed Hulme, revealed his client spends the majority of his time at work, where he’s employed in shellfish processing.
But, during the time of his offending, he had been spending more and more of his free time online - leading him to what he described as "darker areas of the internet".
The court heard none of the 12,808 images found in his possession were still accessible in the normal way.
Mr Hulme explained Forman would view a small number and then delete them, before repeating the process over a period of time.
But he said his client has no previous convictions and, after "burying his head in the sand", is now seeking help for his behaviour.
Sheriff Peter Anderson warned Forman that viewing the "vile" pictures was not a victimless crime.
He gave him a six-month home curfew, which means he must stay at home between the hours of 7pm and 5.30am; ordered him to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work; and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
In addition, Forman was also slapped him with a 27-month Community Payback Order, with the condition he must take part in an internet offenders programme.
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