A Leven paedophile who spent “considerable” periods of time online has admitted downloading hundreds of child abuse files.
Alan Fraser appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to admit taking or making the indecent images over a five year period.
In that time, he had given up work to care for his parents, who have both since died of cancer.
Police were granted a warrant to search the 50-year-old’s home on January 18 last year and swooped on February 26.
They arrived at the property in Law View in Leven at around 8.20am and seized a mobile phone, a system unit and an external hard drive for analysis.
During the search, police carried out a brief preliminary check on the system unit and hard drive and found evidence of sick files.
Graphic stash
On the hard drive, police found 166 Category A still images, and 177 Category B still images and 106 Category C still images.
All of these images were no longer accessible.
However, four Category C images they traced were accessible.
The creation dates of the files found on the device dated as far back as December 9 2017.
As well as the sick files, police discovered more accessible filth on the system unit.
In total, there were 12 Category A still images, 21 Category B still images and 111 Category C still images.
Another nine Category C images found were inaccessible.
The files on the system unit dated back to November 4 2017.
Carer for parents
Defending, solicitor David Bell told the court: “I think for a case of this nature, there’s not a great deal of mitigation.”
Mr Bell said Fraser had given up work four or five years ago to care for his parents.
He explained Fraser’s parents had both died after battles with cancer, one on either side of the police search.
Mr Bell added: “He had been spending most of his time at home.
“He was spending a considerable amount of time online.
“He drifted into places he’d never been involved before.”
Mr Bell said Fraser had already taken it upon himself to engage with charity Stop It Now.
Sheriff Robert More placed him on the Sex Offenders Register and ordered reports.
First offender Fraser will return to be sentenced on March 8.
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