Pervert caught with nearly 1000 child porn images is jailed.

Jan 27 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A PERVERT caught with hundreds of child-porn images on his computer has been jailed.

Police found 836 indecent images on George Kelly’s computer following a search of his Livingston home.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that officers had found 20 images in grades four and five, the categories regarded by investigators as the most serious and offensive.

Last week at the court Kelly, 29, pled guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

His solicitor, Glenn Fraser, said his client wanted and needed help.

“He seems to have developed an interest in porn at a very young age and there is an explanation in the social enquiry report of how that came about,” Mr Fraser said.

“He has poor coping mechanisms and he has used porn as his way of coping with stress.

“His position, as always, is one of acceptance. He accepts it was his responsibility and it was his fault.

“He has given thoughts and explanations on how he ended up in this position but he is not seeking to put the blame on anyone else.

“He has been extremely worried about the case. He ultimately realises the serious nature of the offences.

“He seems to have put a great deal of effort into trying to understand his behaviour.

“He is ashamed and embarrassed of his behaviour. He seems to have some insight into the consequences and impact of his offence.

“Not withstanding the serious nature of the charge I would be inviting a non-custodial disposal such as a longer probation order. It is not just about helping Mr Kelly and he appreciates that if he is to avoid custody then the probation order must have an element of punishment.”

However, Sheriff Martin Edington said he had no option but to jail Kelly.

Sentencing him to 80 days imprisonment Sheriff Edington added: “Every photo represented serious abuse of the child depicted. Those who access this material on the internet create a demand for it and add to the fear and abuse suffered by these children.

“There is no doubt that 836 unique images qualifies as high though I accept that most of them were at level one. But 10, 16 and four were at levels three, four and five respectively and you have used paedophilic search terms on your computer.

“I accept you are assessed at low to medium rick of reoffending, you were a first offender and you have shown remorse. These were non-contact offences and you have taken some steps to at least discuss your problems.

“I also note that there was no distribution of images but you did take steps to store them carefully on your computer.

“Having taken all that into account I have decided that nothing but a custodial sentence is an appropriate disposal.”

Sheriff Edington also placed Kelly on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.