MAN WITH OVER 1,000 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN AWAITS SENTENCING
A man from Kilmaurs is awaiting sentencing after being found in possession of over 1,000 indecent images of children.Danny Welsh, aged 32, has been placed on the sex offenders register pending his sentencing.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs between December 18, 2022, and March 26, 2023.
Welsh appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, October 15, to admit to the charges.
The police discovered the images on Welsh’s device during a search of his residence on Habbieauld Road on March 28 last year.
Prosecutor Alasdair Millar explained that officers arrived around 9.35am and found Welsh inside the house.
After explaining the warrant, officers searched the property and seized a hard drive belonging to Welsh for examination.
Further analysis revealed 1,234 indecent images and 23 videos stored on the device.
Among these, 500 images were accessible, divided into categories: 13 as category A, 15 as category B, and 472 as category C.
The remaining 719 inaccessible images included 11 category A, 21 category B, and 687 category C.
The 19 videos on the device included two in category B and 17 in category C.
The investigation revealed that the images originated from a well-known distributor in Russia.
Welsh’s lawyer, Gillian Swanney, requested that reports be prepared before sentencing.
She asked Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart to allow Welsh to remain on bail while these reports are compiled, noting Welsh’s willingness to comply with conditions set since his arrest.
The sheriff agreed to postpone sentencing until the reports are ready, granted Welsh bail under specific conditions, and ordered him to register as a sex offender when sentenced next month, with the duration of registration to be decided at that time.
