A SHERIFF told an “arrogant” Anniesland paedophile he was not convinced of his remorse as he jailed him for his disgraceful behaviour.

James Simpson sat in the Dumbarton Sheriff Court dock with his head bowed as Sheriff William Gallacher told him he was going to prison for his vile crimes.

The 58-year-old previously pleaded guilty to taking, making or permitting indecent images and pseudo-photographs of children to be taken, between July 2012 and January 2017 at a property in Campsie Drive, Glasgow.

He also admitted having such images in his possession between the same dates.

The Netherton Avenue resident’s defence solicitor told the court on February 13 that her client was making a “positive contribution” to someone else’s life by caring for his mother.

She alluded to a report by a doctor which confirmed her client had recognised the “sexual motive” of his crimes – which he had not done previously – which, she said, suggested he may respond well to treatment.

But Sheriff Gallacher said the issue remained a “serious matter”, and told Simpson that he had showed a “level of arrogance”.

The solicitor replied her client “accepts that he is arrogant”.

As previously reported in the Post, sickening images of babies being seriously sexually assaulted were discovered among a cache of more than 20,000 indecent images found by police at Simpson’s home.

One horrific image depicted a three-month-old tot being sexually abused by a man.

The images were found on three devices belonging to Simpson.

The shocking catalogue of Simpson’s collection of incident images was outlined by fiscal depute Kevin Doherty during a previous court hearing.

He said: “Police received information that indecent images were to be found at the property in Bearsden.

“Police, acting on information, obtained a search warrant and attended the address at 8am on January 10, 2017.

“A systematic search was carried out and police recovered three devices, found in the accused’s office in the garden area of the property. And the accused confirmed he owned and used each of them [the devices].”

Simpson, the court was told, said to officers: “Give that to your cyber boys because that’s what you are looking for.”

An analysis of the devices was carried out and in total 20,773 indecent images were found – some still images, others moving images.

Many of the images were deemed to be category A images, the most serious. And many others were found to be in the category B and C ranges.

Mr Doherty detailed the contents of the images, which are too horrifying to print.

Sheriff Gallacher told Simpson: “Over a period of years – not a fleeting day, not a fleeting incident – in a way that you were able to control material that was of the most disgraceful nature.

“It’s a matter for this court and every court to identify that behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated in the community.

“The material you obtained could not have been created without harming children.

“It’s those like you who provide a market for this kind of material.

“You pled guilty at an early stage, [but] I’m not entirely sure you are particularly remorseful, other than the fact that you have been caught.

“I’m not entirely sure you have the reflection you need to change, other than the fact you have been caught.”

Simpson was sentenced to 16 months behind bars, reduced from 24 months due to his guilty plea.