A married man used high-tech software to try to hide the fact he had been downloading and watching indecent images of children.
Paul Eyres, 30, of South Street, Blairgowrie, claimed he had no interest in child sex images and was only found with one video on his computer as a result of an accident.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that police discovered Eyres had been using disk-cleaning technology to hide his interest in the depraved material which spanned a four-year period.
Sheriff Fiona Tait told Eyres that she did not believe he was simply “naive” and pointed out that he had bought specialised “shredding equipment” and used “pre-teen” as a search term.
She ordered Eyres to carry out 300 hours’ unpaid work and imposed restrictions on his future use of the internet.
Eyres admitted having indecent images of children at his home between February 18, 2011 and November 26, 2014.
Fiscal depute Carol Whyte said: “It was the opinion of examiners that the accused had used file shredding and disk cleaning applications in order to avoid file detection.”
She said Eyres had admitted during a police interview that he had downloaded and deleted a number of videos.
Solicitor Sarah Smith, defending, said: “He has been with his wife for 10 years and married for four. He is fully supported by his wife.
“There was no intention to view such material. There was the intention to view other, legal, material but his behaviour was reckless.
“He took no gratification from viewing the image he found it quite shocking. He was quite naive.”
Sheriff Tait said: “The analysis concludes there had been file shredding other material had been deleted.
“File shredding equipment had been used.”
Eyres was placed on the sex offenders register for two years.