A Fife man who downloaded more than 1,000 indecent images of children has been jailed for more than a year.
Allan McMeikan repeatedly changed his story about how the images ended up on his phone but even his own solicitor conceded the explanations his client had given had been untrue.
The 51-year-old initially claimed he had not downloaded the photographs but an expert brought in by the defence said he had.
At his latest hearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, the court heard how McMeikan already had a previous child sex conviction for filming young girls.
McMeikan, of Durie Gardens Cottage, Leven, appeared for sentencing this week.
Despite his initial denial, he admitted at a previous hearing that between March 12 and December 7 2017 he downloaded indecent photographs of children.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia told the court that when McMeikan’s mobile phone was examined he was found to have downloaded a total of 1,002 indecent images of children.
There were 217 in the most serious category A.
The court heard there were also 221 in category B and 564 in category C.
When questioned by police, McMeikan could give no explanation of how the images were on his device.
He later claimed they had been sent to him in an email.
Sheriff Charles MacNair said the images viewed by McMeikan included the rape of young children and there was no alternative to jail.
Sheriff MacNair sentenced McMeikan to 14 months’ imprisonment.
