A serial rapist caged for a horrifying sex attack in Perth is back behind bars after police uncovered a single image of child abuse on his laptop.
Musician Robin Porter was jailed for 10 years in 2014 after he admitted raping a trussed-up woman at his then home in the city’s Scott Street.
After the attack, he told his distraught victim: “Sorry, that was horrible. I went too far and I didn’t like it.”
The “high risk” sex offender, now 42, returned to court and admitted possession of a child abuse image while staying in homeless accommodation at Perth’s Skinnergate in November 2020.
The obscene photo of a topless schoolgirl was found by police during a routine check-up.
He said to officers he thought some of his images on his laptop were “borderline”.
Porter, who was sacked by his old band Whiskey Trail following a drugs conviction in 2007, was jailed for 10 months.
Routine visit
Depute fiscal Marie Lyons told Perth Sheriff Court: “The accused is a registered sex offender, assessed as being a high risk of causing serious harm.
“Prior to being taken into custody, he was residing in homeless accommodation in Perth.”
She said: “At about 10.30am on November 18, 2020, detective constables carried out a visit to the accused as is their role within the offender assessment unit in Perth.
“During the visit, IT devices were examined.
“While assessing the accused’s laptop, officers observed an image of a post-pubescent female child, approximately 13 to 15 years old.
“She was topless and dressed only in pants.”
Porter was arrested and told police: “I knew there were a few that were borderline.”
The court heard the single indecent photo was found within an One Drive folder on Porter’s laptop.
The file was created on November 15 2020, said Ms Lyons.
Teaches music
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said his client had spent 18 months on remand since his arrest.
“It was his laptop computer and he accepts possession of the image,” he said.
“He is a musician and has been teaching music.
“He still hopes to re-settle himself back into the community.”
Sheriff Grant McCulloch told Porter: “You will realise that someone in your position, with extensive licence conditions, has to be extremely careful about how they behave and what they look at on the internet.
“This image is not the worst that one could find but equally, it is one that you should not be finding.”
He said: “It will be for the parole board to ultimately decide if and when you are released, but as far as this case is concerned I shall impose a custodial sentence effective from today.”
Porter will be remain on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
