Pervert dodges jail on offences

Banned from internet over sick pics

A pervert has been banned from using the internet but has avoided a prison sentence.

Gordon Shearer has been banned from having any device which can access the worldwide web after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children between July 28 and October 15, 2015, and also distributing indecent pictures from his then home in Bon Accord Crescent, Shotts.

The pervert was only caught with sickening indecent images of children when he lost his phone at the town’s Healthy Living Centre.

A total of 110 images found on Shearer’s ‘ lost’ Sony phone, 27 were classed as the most grotesque Category A with 18 being classified as Category C and the remaining 65 defined as Category C.

A further two images were found on a phone discovered in Shearer’s bedroom.

A total of 26 images were distributed by Shearer through a messenger app which contained boys and girl aged between four and 12.

Workers at the centre had found a black Sony mobile phone at the smoking area in the centre’s car park.

They powered the phone up and looked through the pictures to try and trace the owner.

However, they were alarmed to discover snaps that were pornographic and indecent.

The workers handed the phone into Shotts Police Station and reported what they had found.

A forensic team then examined the phone and confirmed that in total 110 indecent images of children were on the mobile.

Forensics confirmed several images had been distributed and the owner was Shearer.

Police quickly obtained a warrant and searched the home Shearer shared with his parents and brother.

When officers arrived at around 8pm they were allowed in by Shearer’s brother.

Shearer himself was in the living room with his parents.

The property was searched and officers seized a black Microsoft phone, which was found in Shearer’s bedroom.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Shearer, now of Range Street, Motherwell, appeared in the dock for sentencing. Sheriff Shiona Waldron put him on a two-year community payback order with a supervision requirement for two years. He was also put on a restriction of liberty order for six weeks.

He was banned from having any contact under the age of 16 unless he is accompanied by an approved adult.