A wannabe Perth actor who was caught on camera having sex with a German Shepherd dog has been banned from keeping pets.
Police also uncovered a sick cache of child abuse images and extreme pornography when they raided Ewan Cole’s home in Stanley.
Amongst the obscene files appeared to be a home movie of the 20-year-old engaged in sexual activity with a dog.
Cole, who is still advertises his acting talents online, admitted having an “unnatural connection” with the animal when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court earlier this year.
He also pled guilty to having indecent photos of children between December 12, 2019, and March 3, 2020.
Cole returned to the dock for sentencing on Thursday.
Deviant behaviour
Sheriff William Wood said he had decided against sending him to prison.
“You have to accept that there are certain norms in society that we have to live by,” he said.
“Deviating from those norms is correctly identified as deviant behaviour, and people – or in this case animals – are harmed by that.”
Sheriff Wood said: “Anyone who views or downloads indecent images of children or animals is part of the process of abuse of those children or animals.
“Every photo represents serious abuse of the subject depicted.”
He added: “Those who access that material bear responsibility for that abuse, because you create a market for these kind of images.
“The victims can suffer significant psychological harm knowing that others take perverted pleasure in looking at this kind of material.”
Banned from playparks
Sheriff Wood added: “These are very concerning charges Mr Cole, and I have considered whether a custodial sentence might be appropriate.
“But given the relatively low number of images, the issues raised in your psychological report, your age and the fact that you are a first offender, I am satisfied there is an alternative to that.
“But that alternative is not necessarily an easier option.
“It will be a robust community payback order as a direct alternative to custody.”
Cole was placed on supervision for three years and ordered to engage with the Tayside Adult Autism Consultancy Team.
He must also take part in the Tay Project’s Moving Forwards: Making Changes sex offenders’ programme.
Sheriff Wood told Cole he cannot own or access pets without getting written permission from a supervising officer.
He was also told to stay away from children and playparks, while further restrictions will be placed on phone and internet access.
Cole, of St Andrews Street, Perth, will stay on the Sex Offenders Register for three years.
Socially isolated
Solicitor Steve Lafferty said his client was socially isolated and had never recovered from the death of his sister.
He said Cole was confused about his identity and was known to involuntarily laugh at inappropriate things.
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova previously told the court: “Confidential information was received by Police Scotland, indicating that indecent images of children may be held on devices at a property in Manse Terrace.
“Just after 7am on March 11, 2020, police lawfully executed a search warrant at the address.”
She said: “An iPhone belonging to the accused was recovered and subjected to full forensic analysis.
“Four inaccessible extreme pornographic videos were recovered from the phone.
“One of the videos appeared to feature the accused.”
Tail in video clip was identified
She said one of the videos, which depicted a man performing a sex act on a dog, had a creation date of September 15, 2019.
Another video showed a black and white collie performing a sex act on a man.
Ms Apostolova said a third clip showed a man sexually assaulting a black and tan dog.
“No faces can be seen in this video,” she said.
The court heard the tail of the dog in sex assault clip matched that of a female German Shepherd seen in another photo.
A total of 10 still images were found, including three at Category A (the most obscene), as well as 13 inaccessible videos, with five of those at Category A.
“None of these were accessible to the user in their current state,” said Ms Apostolova.
“The images depicted male and female children, between the ages of one and 13 years, participating in sexual activity with adults.
“The videos have a total running time of approximately 13 minutes in length.”
