Perthshire Pensioner could face jail for sharing indecent images of kids
A 79-year-old man has been warned he could be facing prison after he was caught encouraging another man to abuse a young child and send him the pictures.
A 79-year-old man has been warned he could be facing prison after he was caught encouraging another man to abuse a young child and send him the pictures.
John Sutherland shared vile images with the other man and was found with a horde of pornographic images and videos featuring children as young as three years old.
When he was arrested by police and confronted with the material on his computer, Sutherland told officers he was a member of a "photography club."
Perth Sheriff Court was told that when Sutherland's computer crashed and he lost access to his child pornography he described it as "a mini disaster."
The court heard how the pensioner had been sending sex abuse pictures by email to another man who was returning footage of him sexually assaulting a young boy.
Sutherland said: "Loved your exploits with your new one. Send me a picture so that I can enjoy the next episode."
"I have had problems with my computer and iPad and had to start over again. Lost most of my postings - a mini disaster.”
Fiscal depute Sue Ruta told the court: "Police received confidential intelligence that the accused was responsible for uploading numerous indecent images and videos of children to the internet.
"During a search of his home various items were seized. A total of 182 accessible still images of children were recovered and 116 moving images were recovered.
"The images were predominantly of male children ranging in age from three to 16. The approximate running time for the moving images was six hours 30 minutes.
"The accused had sent three emails sharing indecent images with attachments on 29 May 2015."
Sutherland was interviewed and told police: "I am a member of a photography club and I send photographs. I didn't know that was illegal."
The 79-year-old, from Auchterarder, admitted distributing indecent images of children on 29 May last year. He also admitted possessing similar material between 23 March and 30 July 2015.
Sheriff William Wood granted Sutherland bail and said: "You ought to consider what might happen if you receive a custodial sentence."
He deferred sentence for reports and placed Sutherland on the Sex Offenders Register.