Sex offender claimed mobile phone was TV remote control

A sex offender attempted to persuade detectives a mobile phone containing indecent images of children was “a remote control for the television”.

Allen Lothian slipped the handset under a pillow, hoping it would escape detection, before making a bid to pull the wool over the eyes of officers.

They had been searching properties across north-east Fife for the 24-year-old after learning he had been uploading indecent images of children to the internet.

Activity from an email account linked to Lothian had been picked-up by specialist officers working at Police Scotland’s east Scotland cybercrime hub in Edinburgh.

They eventually tracked him down to a property in St Andrews, having already executed search warrants in Pittenweem and Anstruther.

A forensic examination of his phone subsequently revealed five images showing boys engaged in sexual activity.

Lothian, of North Street in St Andrews, subsequently admitted that between May 14 and 29, 2014, he was in possession of indecent photographs of children.

He also admitted failing to appear at court on February 14 having been granted bail at Dundee Sheriff Court on November 30 2016.

Sentence has been deferred until October 3 for the preparation of social work and psychiatric reports.

Lothian asked to be allowed to remain on bail.

However, he was remanded in custody by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis.

Social workers have said that, given his previous convictions, they believe he is at “high risk of reoffending”.