A former toy shop worker caught with hundreds of indecent images of children as young as five has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
Grant Nicolson, 30, admitted downloading hundreds of depraved pictures and video of youngsters being forced to commit sexual acts.
Police raided the pervert’s Arklay Street home in 2020, following a tip-off.
Analysis of devices found included 774 inaccessible images: 232 at Category A, 99 at Category B and 433 at Category C.
Fewer than 45 minutes of depraved film and a handful of images remained accessible when police inspected his digital equipment, keeping Nicolson out of prison, Dundee Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday.
Sheriff Gregor Murray said sentencing guidelines meant he could place Nicolson on a community based order, including three years’ supervision and 180 hours of unpaid work.
He said: “The bottom line is there is a low number of images and low length of video.”
Sentencing
Addressing Nicolson, the sheriff added: “You pleaded guilty to a serious charge.
“I must take into account the period of time (since you appeared on petition), the number of images and the length of the videos.
“I am directed (by sentencing guidelines) to give consideration to an alternative to custody.
“You have been assessed as suitable to carry out (these alternatives).
“You are a first offender.
“You will be placed on a period of supervision.
“You will also be placed on the Tay Project.
“You will complete 180 hours’ unpaid work.
“You will be subject to notification on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of three years.”
Victims as young as five years old
Nicolson, who had shaved his hair and considerable beard between appearances at court, admitted his crime at an earlier date.
Depute fiscal Lora Apostalova told the court: “At the time of the offence the accused was single and worked as a customer sales adviser at a toy store in Dundee.
“The case called on petition on November 26 2020 and the accused has been on bail for the lifetime of this case.”
She said: “Intelligence suggested the accused might have indecent images.
“Analysis of devices found included 774 inaccessible images: 232 at Category A, 99 at Category B and 433 at Category C.
“Officers also found 37 minutes of video which were inaccessible.”
The fiscal depute added: “Accessible videos of Category C and A of a total of 42 minutes were recovered.”
She added the ages of the children involved were between five and 15 years old.
