A Perth scientist caught with a haul of obscene child abuse images has had to be sentenced again after his court supervision order was deemed “unworkable”.
Police unearthed hundreds of illicit files on biomedical student Connor Sword’s home computer.
Analysists found he had been making Google searches specifically for sexual material involving children.
In January last year, Sword admitted downloading graphic images over an eight-week period in 2019.
He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and placed under supervision for two years.
On Monday, the 28-year-old was back in the dock after social workers complained his court order was not panning out.
They said Sword, who has autism and suffers from anxiety, found it difficult to cope with regular home visits.
At Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff William Wood, who was told Sword receives a £15,000-a-year stipend from Napier University, revoked the order and fined him £1,200.
Difficult discussions
“Your particular circumstances have caused the social work department and the court some difficulty in working out the best way this can be dealt with,” the sheriff told Sword.
“A review from social workers says that their resources have been exhausted in terms of how your supervision can be dealt with.”
The court heard Sword’s mother had offered to help check his electronic devices and supported her son during social work visits.
“However, some of the issues that need to be discussed would be difficult to speak about in front of your mother, given the nature of this offence,” Sheriff Wood said.
“If the social work department says the community payback order is unworkable, then I have to accept that that is the case.”
Sword, of Lethendy, Perth, will now stay on the Sex Offenders Register for five years – three more than his original sentence.
Google search terms
Solicitor Jamie Baxter, defending, said Sword was able to pay a fine as he receives money from Napier University to work on his PHD.
He said his client found supervised meetings stressful and was often unable to answer social workers’ questions.
“It has not been because of any refusal on Mr Sword’s part,” he said.
They found a total of 300 indecent images, including several at the most graphic end of the obscenity scale.
Fiscal depute Marie Irvine said: “Activity showed Google search terms which suggested the creation of said images was not by accident.
“He stated he had purchased the device on eBay in 2018.
“His position was that he did not knowingly download indecent images of children, that he downloads numerous files and that indecent images of children may have been downloaded amongst other files.”
At the time, Sword was working on a short-term contract at Ninewells Hospital.
