An Angus paedophile caught with hundreds of child abuse images following a raid on his home has been ordered to comply with a community-based order.
Craig Anderson was snared after the home he shared with his parents on Arbroath’s Grampian Gardens was searched by police.
The 37-year-old, who has Asperger’s syndrome, also had videos of children as young as two-years-old being abused.
Anderson previously pled guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court to downloading and possessing indecent images of children between November 16 2019 and March 27 last year.
More than 400 images were found on multiple devices, with the court hearing how Anderson had obtained some of the vile material through Skype.
Alternative to prison available
Anderson returned to the dock following the preparation of social work reports.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said: “The number of images was relatively low.
“There was nothing sophisticated and there was no file-sharing.
“I would submit that it would be appropriate for a community payback order to be imposed.”
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael placed Anderson on supervision for three years and ordered him to engage with the Tay Project programme for sex offenders.
Anderson was also made subject to a conduct requirement restricting his access to the internet and ownership of devices.
“These are serious offences and I know there’s a background here,” Sheriff Carmichael said.
“I understand you have Asperger’s and you have no previous convictions.
“Although these offences take you into the custodial threshold, I also have to think about if there are any alternatives I can impose.
“In this case, I think there are.”
Anderson was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for three years.
