Perth man a ‘danger to public’

A paedophile has been jailed and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely over concerns he poses a lifelong risk to the people of Perth.

The city’s sheriff court was told Gordon Simpson was at “high risk of reoffending” after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children for the second time in 12 months.

The 27-year-old has previously blamed “social isolation” caused by his weight for his attraction to the internet and to children.

In his most recent offence police officers found 1,430 still and moving images depicting sexual abuse of children on computer equipment in his home.

Almost 300 of those images were assessed as level A, a rating reserved for the most depraved images.

Simpson, formerly of New Alyth but now described as a prisoner at Perth, admitted three offences, including possession indecent images and breaches of court orders banning him from possession of devices capable of accessing the internet.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told the accused: “Your behaviour is deeply concerning and it is increasingly clear that you have a propensity for offending.

“You are assessed as being at high risk of reoffending and you pose a risk to the public.”

Simpson was jailed for 33 months and ordered to forfeit all equipment allowing him to access the internet.