INVERNESS MAN ADMITS TO DOWNLOADING OVER 500 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN
A man has admitted to downloading over 500 indecent images of children over a period of 18 months.The court was told that David Mitchell, who resides on Hillhead Road near Inverness, had 104 images of the most graphic kind.
Mitchell, aged 32, pleaded guilty to downloading this material on his mobile phone between March 8, 2019, and September 24, 2020.
Prosecutors revealed that officers from the national child abuse investigation unit in Inverness received information indicating the device involved in child abuse images belonged to Mitchell.
A search warrant was issued, and his phone was seized.
Mitchell provided the PIN to unlock his device, but initially no images were found.
However, further forensic analysis uncovered a total of 589 inaccessible indecent images, including 104 category A images, 82 category B, and 403 category C images.
Mitchell told police, “I don’t know what to say,” when charged.
The court deferred sentencing until December 15 for a background report, and Mitchell was immediately placed on the Sex Offender’s Register.
His bail was extended pending sentencing.
