Man put on sex register

150 sick photos

A 58-year-old Perth man, caught with almost 150 indecent pictures of children, had his name added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years at the sheriff court this week.

Alister Coull, of Potterhill Gardens, Gannochy, will also be supervised by a social worker for the same length of time and will have to take part in the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme.

In addition, he will have to complete 135 hours of unpaid work within six months as part of a Community Payback Order, imposed as a “direct alternative” to time behind bars.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told him: “These are real children and despite the fact there’s a small number of images, these children do suffer because of the activities of people like yourself.”

Coull admitted that between October 25, 2015, and March 28, 2017, at his home, he took, or permitted to be taken - or made - the indecent photographs of children.

The court was told that there were 129 Category C images, 12 in Category B and one at Level A, the most serious category.

Solicitor David Holmes said his client had been suffering from depression and had gone to see his doctor who advised him to go to the police.

“He’s very sorry for the harm he’s caused.”

As a result of his court appearance, he had lost his job.

Sheriff Wade ordered the forfeiture of equipment seized by police in connection with the offence.