Nairn Man Jailed For Child Porn Stash
A Nairn man caught with pictures and videos of child pornography has been jailed.
A Nairn man who admitted possessing child pornography on his computer was jailed for 15 months at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
Richard Paton, 44, now of Glasgow, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children while living in Nairn, between July 6 and November 29, 2012.
There were 10 still images and 76 video clips found on a laptop, tower storage unit and a tablet, but none at the highest level.
Sheriff David Sutherland forfeited the equipment on the motion of procurator fiscal Stella Swan and told Paton that there would be an extended sentence of one year.
Paton will have to serve it if he re-offended after his release from the principal sentence.
The court was told at an earlier hearing when a background report was called for, that police received intelligence that there was child porn on a computer in the house.
Officers raided a property in Nairn and seized equipment after obtaining a search warrant.
Defence solicitor Duncan Henderson said: "Thirty of the files were deleted and not recoverable and the total number is not high.
"At the time most of them were downloaded, my client says he was in a perfect storm, he was unemployed and had returned to Nairn where he had unpleasant memories as a youngster.
"It is detailed in the report.
"There is also a psychological report which shows he is consistent with suffering post traumatic stress.
"He accepts he is in a grave position but he is a vulnerable person who was suffering from a depressive disorder at the time.
"He could be managed in the community rather than be the subject of a custodial sentence."
However Sheriff Sutherland said: "This is a serious offence and I take the view I cannot deal with it other than by a custodial sentence."