Guy Kibblewhite 69

Description

He had 67 videos featuring child sex abuse, 53 of which were in the most serious category

A blind man has admitted having hundreds of child sex abuse images on his phone.

Guy Kibblewhite used a voice activation device to help him decipher the vile photos and videos.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard on Friday that he was caught when a delivery driver spotted a picture of a naked boy on his phone.

Kibblewhite, of Louisbraille Crescent, East Kilbride, was placed on the sex offenders' register and warned that he could jailed.

The 58-year-old admitted possession of indecent images at his home over a 10-year period up to June 28 last year.

The court was told that married Kibblewhite has been registered blind since May 2015.

Sheriff John Speir said it seemed "incongruous" that he should be facing such a charge given his condition.

Defence lawyer Andy Thomson responded: "He tells me he can see some form of movement, no more than that.

"Sometimes there is a voice activation device on the phone that provides a narrative of what the moving images show."

Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said that on June 28 last year a driver delivering parcels passed Kibblewhite's home.

He saw through the living room window that the accused was scrolling on his phone.

Mr Thomson stated: "The worker could clearly make out an image of a boy aged six to seven years on the accused's phone screen.

"The child appeared to be completely naked. The man was concerned by what he'd seen and contacted the police."

Kibblewhite's phone was seized and found to contain 689 indecent photos of children, 184 of which were in the most depraved category.

There were also 67 videos featuring child sex abuse, 53 of which were in the most serious category.

The fiscal said babies thought to be newborn or only a few months old featured in some of the sexually explicit images.

He added: "Analysis of the phone showed it had a device that allowed the user to access illicit websites that would not be accessible to someone using a standard Internet browser.

"It provided access to sites often described as being part of the dark web."

His lawyer described Kibblewhite, who had to be helped into the dock, as "a genuine first offender".

Kibblewhite wept as Sheriff Speir told him: "In view of the nature, duration involved and quantity of the images, be under no illusion that a custodial sentence would ordinarily be appropriate.

"You should be prepared for a possible prison sentence, but I have not yet come to a conclusive view in these unusual circumstances."

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports and a risk assessment.

The Sheriff asked the defence to provide medical evidence, saying he wanted to be "quite satisfied" that Kibblewhite's condition is genuine.

Kibblewhite had his bail continued.