ROSS MCLEOD FROM GREENOCK AND PORT GLASGOW SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

Ross McLeod, a 31-year-old man from the Inverclyde area, has been identified as one of the most notorious offenders in the region for possessing an extensive and disturbing collection of indecent images of children. The revelation came after a lengthy investigation and court proceedings that spanned over two years, during which McLeod consistently concealed his identity by wearing a mask and baseball cap during every appearance in court.

The police investigation uncovered that McLeod had been accumulating this illegal material over a period of nine years, demonstrating a disturbing pattern of behavior. The collection included nearly 160,000 images and videos depicting children aged from as young as six months to 16 years old. Specifically, authorities found 149,371 images that were classified into categories A, B, and C, which denote increasing levels of severity and harm. Additionally, after some images had been deleted, investigators managed to recover a further 8,137 images, highlighting the extent of his illicit collection.

His collection was not limited to images alone; it also contained over a thousand videos of similar disturbing content. The sheer volume and nature of these materials underscored the gravity of his offenses, prompting the court to take a stern stance. During the proceedings, McLeod expressed remorse for his actions, citing his autism and ADHD as factors that he claimed contributed to his behavior. His legal representatives described him as 'terrified' of the prospect of imprisonment and emphasized his need for rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Ultimately, the court sentenced McLeod to 33 months in prison. Furthermore, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. Sheriff Michael Higgins underscored the seriousness of the case, highlighting that the victims' identities might never be known, which added a layer of tragedy to the case. The sheriff also pointed out that the volume and nature of the images involved crossed the threshold for custody, reflecting the severity of McLeod’s offending behavior and the profound impact such crimes have on society and the victims involved.