A Perth man has been jailed for four years after being found with just under 88,000 indecent images and videos of children.
Once Craig Ashforth, 36, of Gilsay Place, completes that sentence he will then have three years on licence and has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, along with having a sexual offences prevention order imposed for 10 years, whereby he can’t work with children aged under 16.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte told Perth Sheriff Court a search warrant was obtained and officers took away computer equipment from the accused’s parents’ address on February 10 last year.
“The computer examination department found a total of 87,950 indecent images and videos on the computer.”
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said all of the images showed a child being abused, with some showing signs of distress.
Ashforth admitted that between August 19 2006 and February 10 last year he made indecent photographs of children.
He also admitted that between January 20 and February 10 last year at the same address he distributed indecent photographs of children.
Sentencing, Sheriff Foulis told Ashforth that a High Court order gave him powers to sentence cases such as these and he jailed him for four years, with three to follow on licence.
Part of the sexual offences prevention order include Ashforth not being able to own a computer or mobile phone without notifying the police, or having access to social networking sites.