Ranger caught with haul of sick images shown mercy by sheriff

A ranger who amassed a haul of bestiality images has been shown mercy by a sheriff.

Euan Hills was found with 30 “explicit and realistic” videos and 40 pictures showing the “extreme” acts when police raided his home.

Stirling Sheriff Court was told that the married father-of-one downloaded the material from the internet during drinking sessions.

Prosecutor Rory Ferguson said: “The facts are relatively simple. The accused’s computer was analysed and on it were found images of extreme pornography.”

Hills, who worked at the 12,000-acre Glen Finglas estate near Brig o’ Turk in the Trossachs, pleaded guilty to possessing extreme porn between 2012 and 2015.

The court heard the 50-year-old, of Julia Cottages, Callander, had attended sessions with internet-offender treatment organisations, and his doctor had provided “certain assistance”.

Sheriff William Gilchrist placed him under supervision for 12 months. Hills’ pleas of not guilty to two other charges of downloading and possessing child abuse images were accepted and he was not placed on the sex offenders register.

He has resigned from his job.