Man caught with 13,813 illicit images

A FIFE man has admitted to being in possession of almost 14,000 indecent images of children over a six-year period.

A ppearing at Cupar Sheriff Court yesterday, Neil McGibbon, 24, of Evershed Drive, Dunfermline, pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place at his home address between January 1 2007 and May 27 2013.

Fiscal depute Nicola Henderson told the court McGibbon, a former photo shop assistant at A sda supermarket, was apprehended by police in relation to the offence in May 2013.

The court heard the majority of images featured girls aged 10 to 12.

In total, 13,813 indecent images were discovered and 306 indecent movies, the majority of which were at level one of the Copine scale. Some were at levels four and five, however.

McGibbon’s defence solicitor Ms Gibson said: “My client is very ashamed and fearful and is a young man who knows what he has done is wrong.”

She added McGibbon had sought help with an organisation called Stop It Now where he completed a group work programme and is currently seeing a sexual psychotherapist.

Sheriff Macnair deferred sentence until May 1 for the preparation of a criminal justice report and psychologist report and placed McGibbon on the sex offenders register.

An A sda spokeswoman last night confirmed McGibbon left the company at the time of his arrest.