A budding actor caught with a hidden cache of child abuse images had an “unnatural connection” with a dog, a court has heard.
Obscene and extreme photos and video clips were recovered by police from an iPhone belonging to 20-year-old Ewan Cole.
One of the films appeared to show Cole engaged in a sexual activity with a German Shepherd, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
Cole was placed on the sex offenders’ register and told to steer clear of dogs and children under 16.
‘He realises he has a problem’
Unemployed Cole, who has a listing on an acting website, appeared in court and admitted having an “unnatural connection with a dog” at his then home in Manse Crescent, Stanley, in December 2019.
He pleaded guilty to having indecent photos of children between December 12, 2019, and March 3, 2020.
And he admitted a third charge of being in possession of “extreme pornographic images” depicting “in an explicit and realistic way” a man having sex with a dog, and performing a sex act with a dog.
Solicitor Steve Lafferty said: “He has consulted with his doctor and he realises he has a problem.
“He thinks there may be some kind of psychiatric disorder.”
Cole, of St Andrew Street, Perth, was released on bail – after Sheriff William Wood first checked that there weren’t any animals at the property.
Police tip-off
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova told the court: “Confidential information was received by Police Scotland, indicating that indecent images of children may be held on devices at a property in Manse Terrace.
“Just after 7am on March 11, 2020, police lawfully executed a search warrant at the address.”
She said: “An iPhone belonging to the accused was recovered and subjected to full forensic analysis.
“Four inaccessible extreme pornographic videos were recovered from the phone. One of the videos appeared to feature the accused.”
She said one of the videos, which depicted a man performing a sex act on a dog, had a creation date on September 15, 2019.
Another video showed a black and white collie performing a sex act on a man.
Ms Apostolova said that a third clip showed a man sexually assaulting a black and tan dog.
“No faces can be seen in this video,” she said.
The court heard that the tail of the dog in sex assault clip matched that of a female German Shepherd seen in another photo.
The most extreme videos
A total of 10 still images were found, including three at Category A (the most obscene), as well as 13 inaccessible videos, with five of those at Category A.
“None of these were accessible to the user in their current state,” said Ms Apostolova. “The images depicted male and female children, between the ages of one and 13 years, participating in sexual activity with adults.
“The videos have a total running time of approximately 13 minutes in length.”
Sheriff Wood told Cole: “The court is very concerned about the nature of these charges.”
Sentence was deferred until September 6 for background reports.
