A Perth paedophile Hugh Caldwell apprehended with a substantial collection of child pornography expressed remorse for the young victims shown in the material.
Hugh Caldwell’s collection of about 65,000 images and videos contained over 130 classified as the most abhorrent category.
The 31-year-old was apprehended when police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a raid at his parents’ residence in Perth.
Fiscal depute Alan Kempton informed Perth Sheriff Court that the police said the visit pertained to indecent photographs, to which he responded affirmatively, stating: Yes, that will be me.
He acknowledged that photographs of minors would be there on his computer. The majority were at level one, but 131 photos and one video were classified as level five.
Hugh Caldwell expressed to the police: I regret that this incident occurred. I sincerely apologise to those depicted in the photographs and to those I have disappointed.
He confessed to routinely downloading the abhorrent photographs for six years till late October.
Sheriff Robert McCreadie enrolled Hugh Caldwell, who possesses no prior convictions, on the sex offenders register and postponed sentencing for reports. He was released on bond.
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