Latest Offenders

Description

A man has avoided an immediate prison sentence after he tried to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl for sex.

Mitchell Taylor messaged several accounts of girls under the age of 16.

He began speaking to 'Ellie' who he planned to meet at Stoke Railway Station on May 28, 2021.

But Taylor, who was 22 at the time, found that he had been duped by a paedophile hunter group.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how he told a 13-year-old he 'liked young girls,' StokeonTrentLive reports.

Taylor - who has 13 previous convictions for 27 offences - was later arrested while on bail for threatening a security guard with a six-inch kitchen knife at a housing support premises.

Prosecutor, Syed Ahmed, told the court: "Predator group STOP set up a fictitious social media profile posing as a 13-year-old girl called Ellie.

"Mr Taylor contacted the account on March 20, 2021, with a message saying ‘Hey’. The conversation quickly turned sexual. The decoy informed Mr Taylor she was 13. He replied saying he was 22.

"He asked her if she would like to be his girlfriend. She said she didn’t know as she might get into trouble.

"He asked to see ‘sexy pictures’ of her. She said she didn’t know what this meant and asked Mr Taylor what he would like her to do."

Taylor then described the pictures she could send and offered to share intimate images of himself with her.

Mr Ahmed continued: "The girl said she didn’t know as she didn’t think her mum would be happy with it. Mr Taylor told the decoy that her mum didn’t need to know.

"The defendant arranged to meet with the girl at Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station on May 28, so she could come back to his house. He was instead met by paedophile hunters.

"He denied having sent any messages to the decoy and told the hunters that ‘Kieran had been sending the messages’.”

Taylor was interrogated by detectives on May 28, 2021 and answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

On December 17, he admitted he knew he was speaking to a child - but denied having any intention of sexual activity.

Taylor, of Greenhead Street, Burslem, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming on May 28, 2021.

Matthew Ness, mitigating, said that while Taylor had an extensive criminal record, this was his first sexual offence. He said the crimes were a result of his 'vulnerable' mental state.

He said: “At the time of the offending he was in early 20s - but he had the sexual and mental maturity of a teenager.

"Mr Taylor’s psychiatric reports show he suffers from significant learning disabilities.

"It is no coincidence that his offending completely stopped in 2021, ever since he started working with the learning disability support services.”

Taylor was given a two-year suspended sentence, a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, 100 hours of unpaid labour, and ordered to pay £500 in court costs. He was also ordered to complete a sex offender rehabilitation course.

Description

A plasterer from Catford who sent sexual messages and photos to a 13-year-old girl has avoided prison. 

Mark Ginn, 41, sent the sexual messages on Facebook in October 2023. 

Within days Ginn found himself confronted by members of an online paedophile hunter group. 

Ginn later pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.   

The charges state that sent an indecent photo of his penis and requested sexual photos of the young girl.   

Ginn appeared at Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday, May 28. 

He received a two-year sentence which was suspended for two years – meaning he left the court a free man. 

The sentence includes 100 hours of unpaid work, sex offenders treatment requirements and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order. 

He will also be required to sign the sex offenders register for the next 10 years. 

Description

A prolific offender whose sexual violence against women spanned more than a decade has today, Friday 30 May, been jailed for 30 years plus an extra five years to be served on extended licence.

Peter Wilkinson, 53 of Drake Gardens, Tavistock, was found guilty of 21 separate offences following a five-week trial at Plymouth Crown Court.

He must serve 2/3 of the 30 year custodial sentence element of the sentence before he can be considered for parole. Wilkinson must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. 

During the trial, the court heard how the offending took place between 2012 and 2024 in the Tavistock area against five women, four of whom were especially vulnerable.

Wilkinson was arrested in October 2023 following a report that he had sexually abused a woman on numerous occasions. He was arrested and after extensive investigative work, the investigating officer was able to identify and establish a further four more victims who Wilkinson had also targeted and abused.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Craig Ferguson prepared a voluminous and intricate case with the assistance of Beth Wycherley, a Senior Crown Prosecution Service lawyer from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Team. Wilkinson was charged with multiple rapes, sexual offences, physical assaults and strangulation, all of which he denied. He remained on remand in custody until the start of his trial at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday 24 March 2025. 

Throughout the trial the jury heard detailed evidence from each of the five victims who spoke of the trauma Wilkinson had caused them. The jury also heard evidence from multiple witnesses, and from Wilkinson himself who denied any offences and claimed that all of the victims had lied about him.

On 22nd April 2025, after two days deliberation, the jury came back with unanimous verdicts finding him guilty of multiple counts of rape, serious sexual assault, physical assault and strangulation committed against five victims. 

Today, Friday 30 May, the court reconvened at Plymouth Crown Court for Wilkinson’s sentencing. 

The court heard powerful victim impact statements. One victim said that she never wanted to see Wilkinson’s face again. She described: “He hurt me, he frightened me and he forced me to do things I did not want to do.”

Another spoke of being “vulnerable, frightened and exhausted” and suffering repeated nightmares and flashbacks. 

A number of the victims spoke of still being in fear of Wilkinson even though he is locked up.

In mitigation it was heard that Wilkinson has an intellectual disability which results in him living a “basic” existence. 

In sentencing Wilkinson, HHJ Robert Linford said the following: “You were a sexual predator who selected, groomed and abused woman.”

Judge Linford added that Wilkinson carefully selected the majority of his victims due to their vulnerabilities and inflicted physical pain and suffering on them. He also detailed the profound effect Wilkinson’s offending had.

He said: “It does not need me to say that these offences dredge the depths of depravity”, before adding that the offending “utterly beggars belief”.

Judge Linford noted that Wilkinson suffers his own intellectual difficulties, but knows right from wrong, adding “I am sure you targeted these women because of their vulnerabilities”. 

Speaking after the trial DC Craig Ferguson said: “Peter Wilkinson is a dangerous and predatory sexual offender. The offences in this case were harrowing with vulnerable people being targeted and abused in their homes where they should have been able to feel safe and secure.

“I have been a police officer and detective for 21 years, and this is some of the worst and most disturbing offending that I have been caused to deal with.

“This has been a lengthy, complex, and difficult investigation. I know that the outcome of this case will not have diminished the impact that Peter Wilkinson has had upon the victims and their lives, but I hope that they can now try to move forward in the knowledge that he cannot hurt them, or anyone else, anymore.

“I want to pay tribute to the strength and courage of the five women who have survived this abuse, and who each found the strength and determination to give their evidence to the court.

“Without the courage and resolve of these women Peter Wilkinson’s offending may have never come to light, and he may never have been identified and brought to justice.”

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Neil Lloyd said: “I welcome today’s verdict and thank the court and jury for their time. 

“My thoughts remain with the victims who have shown tremendous courage and strength throughout the investigation and during the trial. I hope today’s verdict provides some degree of closure and that they can begin to rebuild their lives. 

“Wilkinson was a prolific offender whose violence against women spanned more than a decade. He selected the victims because they were vulnerable, and he probably thought they would never be able to speak out or be listened to.

“I want to mention DC Craig Ferguson and PC Helen Winterson, a sexual offences liaison officer (SOLO). DC Ferguson meticulously built the prosecution case over several years, working tirelessly and with great commitment to completing all possible enquiries, whilst PC Winterson  supported the victims throughout the difficult criminal justice process, assisting DC Ferguson with some of the victim interviews, and supporting the most vulnerable in the case. 

“Their work, together with our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service, left the jury in no doubt of Wilkinson’s guilt, and ensured the victims’ voices were heard loud and clear.

“We would urge victims of sexual abuse to report their perpetrators. I would like to reassure them that we are fully committed to putting an end to violence against women and girls. We have officers like Craig and Helen across the force who are ready to listen to you and ensure your voice is heard.”

Description

A man who sent sexual images and videos to a 12-year-old girl has avoided prison.

Luke Ayling, 33, of Oakhill Road in Sutton, spent two months sending sexual messages to a Facebook account he believed to be a young girl.

But the former chef, now unemployed, got a shock when he found out he was actually messaging a decoy account designed to catch paedophiles.

Ayling appeared at Croydon Crown Court for sentencing on Friday after he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Prosecutor Michael Chambers said Ayling began messaging the account in May 2021.

When the operator of the decoy account said they were 12 he replied “too young”, before sending a number of sexual photos and videos of himself.

Ayling made arrangements to meet the child on three occasions but never showed up.

Ruth Zentler-Munro, defending, said her client was in a state of poor mental health at the time of the offending.

She said Ayling has since addressed his substance abuse problem which exacerbated his mental health problems and has not offended in the four years since.

Recorder Samantha Presland, sentencing, said: “Mr Ayling, I appreciate you were in a very bad place at the time you fell down this rabbit hole, but if this had been an actual child the ramifications would have been lifelong for them.”

Ayling was given a 16 month sentence, suspended for 20 months.

He will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a number of rehabilitation days.

Description

A sex offender who repeatedly exposed himself at train stations has avoided prison.

Leon Clarke, 49, from Sutton, admitted exposing his genitals intending to cause alarm or distress on seven occasions in the last year.

Two of the offences took place at Cheam Station whilst one happened at Herne Hill Station.

The other offences took place at various stations in London and Hertfordshire including Romford, Woodside Park and Croxley Green.

Clarke appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 27, and was sentenced to a one-year community order and a 10 fine.

He was also given a five-year sexual harm prevention order which bans him from approaching, touching, or making any attempts to communicate with any unknown female in a public place.

The order also bans Clarke from sitting next to or opposite any lone female or child at a railway station or on public transport except where there are no other seats available.

Clarke has been added to the sex offenders register and will be required to register with the police until 2030.

Description

Two Newcastle perverts caught distributing and making indecent images and videos of children believed it was a "joke", a court heard.

Abdullah Hamood, 28, and Essa Oghul, 45, were caught with a number of indecent images and videos after police seized their mobile phones.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Northumbria Police had received intelligence that a Facebook account linked to Oghul sent an indecent category A video to Hamood in January 2021. In December 2022 Oghul was arrested for an unrelated matter and his phone was seized.

Hamood's property was then searched in January 2023 and his mobile phone was seized, the court was told, with both phones forensically examined.

The court heard on Oghul's phone four Category C indecent images of children were found, alongside one image and four videos of extreme pornography. One of the children was aged between two and four years, the court heard.

Seven Category A videos of children, three Category B indecent images and two Category C indecent images were found on Hamood's phone. The ages of the children were between seven and 15 years old.

It was also found Hamood had distributed six Category A images and videos of children via Whatsapp, while Oghul had distributed one Category C image of a child.

Hamood, of Walkerdene House, Walker, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, and three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child. On sentencing Hamood, Recorder Makepeace said the defendant had no previous convictions.

Recorder Makepeace said he had read a presentence report and "rejected entirely" any suggestion that the defendant believed what he was doing was "culturally acceptable". He added: "I reject entirely any suggestion by you that you thought the distribution was a joke.

"Just think for one second how you would explain to a right thinking person it would be a joke. I'm satisfied that what you were doing was for sexual gratification. You don't believe a victim would be harmed in any way, they are real children."

Hamood was given a 20 months prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation days and 250 hours unpaid work.

Oghul, of Todds Nook, Newcastle, pleaded guilty one count of distributing a photograph, one count of making an indecent photograph and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image. On sentencing Oghul, Recorder Makepeace said: "Again, there are similar, very worrying explanations. I do not accept that you shared these images as a joke.

"How any right thinking person would think it is a joke. You did it, I have no doubt, for your own sexual gratification."

Description

A Perthshire chef has been jailed for historical sexual abuse.

Thomas McPhee, the former head chef and manager at the Red Brolly Inn in Ballinluig, has been imprisoned for 58 weeks after admitting offences against two teenagers in the mid-2000s.

Description

Following a Warwickshire Police investigation, a man has been sentenced to prison for indecent image offences.

David Seccull, aged 68 of Suffolk Close, Bedworth, appeared at Warwick Crown Court on Friday (23 May 2025).

In August last year, a warrant took place at his address where evidence of making indecent images of children was found.

His devices were seized and a forensic examination took place which resulted in the following charges:

• Making and Distributing Category A, Category B and Category C images
• Possession of Prohibited Images
• Possession of Extreme Images
• Possession of a bladed article (due to a separate incident where he turned up answering bail with a knife)

Seccull pleaded guilty to the offences and was remanded in custody. On Friday he was sentenced to three years and two months imprisonment.

Following the sentence, investigating officer PC Naomi Radford said: “Seccull had almost completed his time as a managed sex offender, when we received valuable intelligence that he was continuing to offend.

“Our Sex Offender Management Team secured a warrant, which secured the evidence. Hopefully this case shows that even when offenders think we are not watching them, we are always there and if you continue to engage in illegal activity online then we will work hard to prosecute you.

“I hope prison serves as a reminder to Seccull of the harm his behaviour has caused to his victims. He will now be on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and will also be subject to a robust Sexual Harm Prevention order.”

Description

A man who tried to conceal his sexual offences by blaming it on his non-existent twin has been jailed.

Suspicions were first raised about Andrew Sullivan, 32, when the parents of a child he had been in contact with raised concerns about his previous offences and the possibility he was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He told them it had in fact been his twin brother who was responsible - and who had since taken his own life.

But, after carrying out their own research, the parents found that Sullivan's twin did not exist and reported him to Lancashire Police.

Officers then uncovered that Sullivan had sexually assaulted a young boy whilst in contact with them.

After forensically examining Sullivan's phone, police found 1,346 illicit images of children, with 701 of the images branded ‘Category A’, the worst possible grading. All of the 1,346 files were videos.

He was charged with three counts of sexual touching of a male child, causing a male child to engage in sexual activity, possession of indecent images of children, and breach of a SHPO.

Sullivan, now of no fixed abode, but formerly of Dickson Road in Blackpool, was sentenced two 12 years in prison in connection with offences in Lancashire and the Kent area at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 23 May.

He will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life and will also be subjected to a lifelong SHPO, which includes prohibiting him from having unsupervised contact with children and limiting his access to the internet.

Sullivan was also sentenced for rape of a child under 13 and sexual assault of a child in Kent in 2007.

DC Sam Schofield of Blackpool Police said: "Sullivan is a despicable individual who committed abhorrent crimes against children.

“He believed he was being cunning, hiding his previous convictions and lying to facilitate his access to children.

"Thanks to the inquisitive nature of the parents, his lies were uncovered and began to unravel. He will now serve a custodial sentence for his actions both in Kent and Lancashire.

"I want to praise the bravery of the victim. He and his family have shown incredible strength and bravery throughout proceedings. I hope that they can now begin to move on with their lives knowing that Sullivan is behind bars.

Description

Two childcare workers who abused their position and targeted a vulnerable child, supplying her with drugs and alcohol before sexually abusing her have been jailed.

On October 3, last year Liam Ramsey and Stephen Hurst took a 15-year-old girl, who was in their care into Durham City Centre.

CCTV captured the actions of the pair as they arrived in Durham and then began visiting local pubs.

To avoid detection, they used their personal bank cards to purchase alcohol, plying the victim with wine and cocktails throughout the day. On the way back to the care home, they made a detour to purchase 120 worth of Class A drugs.

Ramsey and Hurst then took the child back to the care home where they continued to supply her with alcohol and gave her cocaine.

The victim told police that because of all the cocaine they had given her, she had a nosebleed and went upstairs.

As the victim went upstairs, Ramsey came into the room naked followed by Hurst who was also naked.

The victim was then subjected to physical and sexual abuse throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning.

Both Ramsey and Hurst were on duty at the time of the offences, being her carers for the day.

Liam Ramsey and Stephen Hurst were arrested after the victim left the care home following the ordeal.

Officers later charged Ramsey and Hurst with 18 offences and they were remanded into court.

The pair made some initial admissions but also denied many of the offences and so were taken to trial.

In April, the jury found Ramsey and Hurst guilty of numerous offences including sexual activity with a child, intentional strangulation and supply of a class A drug.

Ramsey, 40, of Sunderland was jailed for 11 years whilst Hurst, 46, of Richmond was jailed for 9 years.

Both men were placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

An online pervert who repeatedly sent explicit messages and images to who he thought were young girls has finally been jailed after he was trapped in undercover police operations designed to "wheedle out" potentially dangerous people like him.

Serial offender Michael Warchol thought that he was exchanging messages with real girls but, unknown to him, they were decoys that had been set up by investigators, Hull Crown Court heard.

Warchol, 27, formerly of Orchard Park, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted two sets of offences involving attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to watch or look at images of sexual activity and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Maya Hanson, prosecuting, said that Warchol was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order at Hull Crown Court on December 21, 2023 for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Police received information from the regional organised crime unit that Warchol had been having conversations with a decoy 12-year-old girl between December 4 and 19 last year. It began on the social media platform Kik and moved to Snapchat.

Warchol immediately sent an intimate picture of himself and the fake girl told him that she was 12 years old. Despite this, the conversation continued and Warchol sent another intimate picture of himself as well as an explicit video and a selfie-type image.

He asked the girl for images of herself and asked her about sexual activity. "He requested that they video call so that he could show her," said Miss Hanson.

Details of Warchol were obtained and facial recognition software matched an image that had been sent to the girl with him. He was arrested at his home on January 14. Police found 25 mobile phones, not all of them working, and a seemingly broken laptop.

On February 12, a further referral to the police was made by the East region special operations team regarding Warchol's communication with a decoy 14-year-old girl. He asked for a picture of the girl and, when one was sent to him, he sent an intimate image of himself.

He communicated with the fake girl between December 2 and 19. She told him that she was a child and that she had a day off school but the conversation continued. He sent a series of explicit images and asked intimate questions. He requested pictures of her and he told her: "U know what I really want of u." Warchol was arrested on March 11 but he made no comment to all questions. His previous convictions included possessing an offensive weapon in 2019.

David Godfrey, mitigating, said that the offences were serious but Warchol had pleaded guilty. Drug and alcohol use had affected his impulse control. Warchol was emotionally insecure for his age and he had never had a social group.

"He knows that, when he gets out of prison, he is going to have to stay off his computer and fight these urges and understand why he keeps engaging in this behaviour," said Mr Godfrey. Warchol realised that it was the police's job to "wheedle out people like this" by using decoys. It was possible that he might be deported to Poland.

Warchol was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He was given a sexual harm prevention order for life and he must register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A pair of undercover police officers thwarted a Dundee paedophile’s attempts to groom children on social media.

Joseph Nicholson, 40, sent a string of nauseating messages to two profiles he believed were an underage boy and girl.

Description

A sex offender who made indecent pictures of children and installed illegal software was today told by a judge "boredom and loneliness" was no excuse for his "depraved" behaviour.

Christopher Daniels, 51, of Alyn Road, Buckley, admitted making the images of children - including a baby girl. The pictures were in the most serious category A as well as categories B and C.

Mold Crown Court heard Daniels had been given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for ten years in January 2017. Terms prohibited him from file sharing or using anonymity software on any device capable of accessing the internet.

However, on November 3, 2022 police searched his home and he was arrested on suspicion of making indecent images of children. Officers examined devices and found 147 indecent images in category A, 74 indecent images and one moving film both in category B, and 113 category C indecent images.

Images of boys and girls aged about four to 12 were on a Samsung phone with a protected PIN. His laptop had FrostWire peer-to-peer software - in breach of his SHPO.

Prosecutor Dafydd Roberts said one image showed someone committing an indecent act on a baby girl. A man committed an intimate act on another girl aged four to six in another image, the court heard.

Myles Wilson, defending, said a psychologist found Daniels has "unresolved, personal trauma" from childhood and adulthood. He is a "particularly anxious individual".

He doesn't work and feels targeted by locals. He has little support from family or friends and feels isolated, he added. But Mr Wilson suggested Daniels could be rehabilitated.

However, the judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "I'm afraid it's abundantly clear to me you have no interest in complying with the terms of the sexual harm prevention order.

"The purpose and terms (of a SHPO) are important tools to ensure there is no repetition of the unnatural and worrying behaviour on your part." The judge said that there had been some sophistication in storing images during his "depraved" behaviour.

He added: "Obsessive behaviour born out of boredom and loneliness is understandable (but) I fail to see how this explains let alone excuses your deliberate and repeated accessing images of young children seemingly whilst affected by drink."

Nor does it excuse a deliberate breach of a court order - an order which would have been explained to him repeatedly, he said. For making indecent images in category A Daniels was jailed for 12 months with no separate penalties for the category B and C offences.

He was also given six months in jail, to run consecutively, for breaching the SHPO, making a total of 18 months imprisonment.

Description

A Swindon man broke a woman’s nose after repeatedly sexual assaulting her.

30-year-old Scott Townsend, of Beechcroft Road, left his victim – aged in her 20s – traumatised following a violent attack in his home.

The woman and her friend had been drinking in Swindon town centre when she bumped into a former classmate, who was in the company of the defendant.

Townsend suggested they go back to his place for more drinks. The woman and her friend agreed and went to his property – where the had continued to drink.

Less than an hour after arriving, the pair had decided to stop drinking and go home. However, the defendant sexually assaulted the victim as she attempted to leave.

She told Townsend to get off her, and continued to leave. It was then that he sexually assaulted her for a second time and, again, was told to stop.

He went on to put her in a headlock, before repeatedly punching her in the face and upper body – causing her a fractured nose and other injuries.

After Townsend’s friend freed the woman from his clutches, the pair escaped and the police were contacted. He was arrested and charged with four offences.

The victim’s friend – also a woman – also sustained injuries in the incident, which happened in April 2023.

At Swindon Crown Court earlier this year, the defendant pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults and two assaults occasioning actual bodily harm.

On Friday (23 May), he was sentenced to a 21-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months. He was told to complete 175 hours of unpaid work and 26 days of rehabilitation activity within the next 12 months.

Townsend was also ordered to register has a sex offender for ten years.

In a statement, the victim told of how she was “too scared to go out again for a very long time”, adding that “for weeks was at home because I was scared to leave the house.”

She told of how her nose is “crooked and it will never be the same as before”, having to attend many hospital appointments for treatment.

The woman, who is a mother, said that she had to “keep a brave face for my children”.

She continued: “I still think about what happened to me and when the flashbacks occur I feel sick to my stomach.

“Myself and [my friend] have been there for each other to get through this horrible time.

“No one should have to deal with panic attacks and anxiety for months on end because of a man who thought it was okay to beat up a woman.”

Description

A young Paisley paedophile has been caught with over 500 images of vile child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Creepy Callum Beith was also caught with videos of “extreme pornography” on his iPhone which involved adult male and females engaging in sexual acts with animals including dogs, fish and poultry.

When cops raided the 24-year-old’s home, he initially tried to deceive cops by not coming forward with all of his mobile devices.

However cops carried out a wifi check which lead them to discover a device which hadn’t been handed over initially by Beith.

The pervert told cops there was a hidden iPhone which lead them to carry out a full cyber crime investigation.

Procurator fiscal depute Michael Cunningham told Paisley Sheriff Court Beith’s family home in the much-sought after Main Road in Paisley was raided by cops on February 16, last year.

Mr Cunningham explained: “Around 7.40am police attended with a search warrant. The accused’s mother permitted entry and called him downstairs.

“A search was carried out and officers recovered two iPads, an Apple laptop, five iPhones and a Toshiba hard drive.

“DC Gibson examined the wifi device and noted a device had not been recovered and gave the accused an opportunity to provide this.

“The accused stated there was an old mobile phone that he had left behind on holiday and initially denied any other devices.

“Then he stated there was an iPhone in the wardrobe in the bedroom.

“It was discovered there were 40 moving images of child exploitation and abuse consisting of Category A, B and C.

“They involved male and female children aged between one and 12-years-old.

“Some moving images had been deleted on February 16.

“The accused was arrested and cautioned and charged and later released on an undertaking to appear at this court at a later date.”

Mr Cunningham told the town’s court a full cyber crime analysis was carried out on twisted Beith’s iPhone.

He added: “A total of 579 images of the sexual abuse of children were recovered. There were 145 Category A images.

“Also discovered was 141 videos of child sexual exploitation and abuse. These ranged from Category A to Category C involving children aged three to 16-years-old. 116 videos fell under Category A.

“Extreme pornography was also discovered with seven videos showing adults illegally engaging in sexual acts with animals including, dogs, fish and poultry.”

Beith pleaded guilty to being in possession of indecent images of children between September 1, 2018 and February 16, last year at his Paisley home.

He also admitted to being in possession of “extreme pornographic images depicting in an explicit and realistic way, adults having sexual activities with animals” between June 13, 2019 and August 25, 2021.

Defence agent Anthony Boland invited the court to call for a full range of reports and reserved mitigation.

Sheriff Brian Mohan stated: “I’m going to need some background information.

“Your bail will be continued and reports will be called for, then I’ll hear from your solicitor.

“You will be placed on the Sex Offender’s Register with the period to be determined at the next hearing.”

Sentence was adjourned for a risk assessment to be carried out and for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.

Beith will return to court for sentencing in July.