A Dundee man who used Instagram to search for “pre-teen” children has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
Darren Douglas, 39, admitted having illegal images after his Samsung phone was discovered to have disgusting pictures of children as young as two being sexually abused.
Police had to call a Dundee City Council joiner to Douglas’ flat after he initially failed to let them enter on the morning of July 8, 2020.
Officers had received intelligence a device containing images would be found at the address, where Douglas lived alone.
An extensive search of the property was carried out.
Douglas then told police he had “pawned” his mobile on a buy-back scheme at his local Cash Converters store.
Police headed to the shop and recovered the phone, where they discovered 15 inaccessible images and anti-forensic software downloaded to it.
Police raid
Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney told Dundee Sheriff Court: “The accused is 39-years-old and lives alone.
“He was in receipt of Universal Credit at the time.
“Police Scotland had received intelligence indecent images might be on a device at the property.
“On July 8, police attended the property.
“A Dundee City Council joiner was summoned to gain entry.
“A systematic search was carried out.
“The accused said he had sold the phone to Cash Converters.
“Staff later handed over the phone.
“He was interviewed later by police and provided a ‘no comment’ interview.”
Images retrieved
Mr Sweeney continued: “Police discovered 15 inaccessible images, two at Category A, two at Category B and 11 at Category C.
“The Category A images featured children between three and six years old.
“Category B featured children between two and five years old.
“The Category C images featured children between two and 10 years old.
“Instagram searches used indicative terms including ‘pre-teens’ and ‘pre-teen fans’.
“The device had anti-forensic software installed.”
Douglas, of Provost Road, admitted that between January 20, 2020 and June 19 2020 he took or permitted to be be taken or make indecent images or pseudo-photographs of children.
Sheriff Paul Brown deferred sentence for reports and added him to the Sex Offenders Register immediately.
