A Kelty paedophile who insisted to police “I’m not that type of person” after being caught with hundreds of sick child abuse photos has been told by a sheriff: “You are that type of person.”
Douglas O’Hare previously admitted possessing indecent photographs of children at a hearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
The design technician told police “I’m not that type of person,” after they raided his family home before 8am.
Officers uncovered more than 200 obscene files, including 56 images categorised as the most graphic kind.
A sentencing sheriff told the 41-year-old: “Contrary to what you told police, you are that type of person.”
Dawn raid
Fiscal depute Lee-Anne Barclay told the court married father-of-one O’Hare had been working from home at the time.
Ms Barclay explained this working condition was in place to allow him to care for his disabled wife.
She added: “In August 2022, as a result of information passed to Police Scotland, a search warrant was obtained.”
Police attended his home in Beechbank Crescent at 7.50am on August 30 that year.
“A number of items were recovered,” Ms Barclay continued.
A laptop which was down the side of O’Hare’s sofa was seized.
It was found to have been used to access a “website of concern” and O’Hare was subsequently arrested.
He was taken to Dunfermline police station where, under caution, he told officers: “I got caught up in a spiral. I’m not that type of person.”
On the device, police uncovered 219 inaccessible images which depicted child abuse.
A total of 56 were assessed to be Category A, 57 found to be Category B and 106 decided to be Category C.
Ms Barclay explained the images showed both boys and girls aged between three and 12 in sexual posing and being abused by adults and other children.
While no creation dates could be confirmed, it was accepted the files were in O’Hare’s possession from January 1 that year up until the raid.
It was accepted that the images O’Hare was caught with were not sourced from the “website of concern,” but rather sent to him from like-minded individuals after correspondence moved to encrypted chat app Wickr.
“Akin to an addiction”
O’Hare previously admitted possessing the vile material for a period of eight months.
After meeting with Fife Council’s social work department, he returned to the dock to be sentenced.
His solicitor Amy Harley said: “He has no outstanding matters and no record of previous convictions.
“He explains he was isolated at the time of his offending.”
She said her client “got caught up in a spiral” and described his actions as like an “addiction.”
“He had been speaking to people online on websites,” she said. “That then led to a private chat.”
The court heard O’Hare had expressed his shame and disappointment.
“He has undertaken employment to try and reduce social isolation,” said Ms Harley.
“He is aware that a custodial sentence is an option for the court.”
“You are that type of person”
Sheriff Susan Duff imposed 225 hours of unpaid work to be completed in nine months.
The sheriff also placed O’Hare under supervision for 36 months and on the sex offenders register for five years.
She ordered O’Hare to complete the Moving Forward: Making Changes project aimed at rehabilitating sex offenders.
She also imposed a string of strict conduct requirements.
O’Hare must only reside in approved accommodation and must not have unauthorised contact with children under 16.
He must make his electronic devices available for inspection and do nothing to hide his internet use.
Sheriff Duff told him: “The starting point for possession of Category A images is 12 months imprisonment, according to the guidance for England and Wales.
“You were in possession of 219 images. You accessed these images on the internet.
“Nobody would have sent these images without a reason to send you these images.
“You viewed these images.
“The appalling photography of children being sexually exploited happens because people, including you, want to see these images.
“Contrary to what you said to police, you are that type of person.”
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