A MAN caught with 50 indecent images of children has been allowed to remain in the community and will be on the sex offenders’ register for a year.

Graham Campbell, of Linnvale, returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week for sentencing after admitting possession of the images at different properties in Clydebank over a six-week period, between September 8 and October 22, 2017.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Paul said: “The background report is helpful. He is a man with no previous convictions. He was made redundant because, he is told, for financial reasons.

“He has had a long and happy relationship with his wife for 17 years. This offence has had a massive impact on his family.”

The court previously heard how officers arrived at his home with a search warrant. Prosecutor Sarah Healing said: “The accused allowed police officers entry. He told police, ‘I’ve been stupid. They are all on my phone.’

“His phone was seized and a preview examination found indecent images of children on the device. A systematic search of the house was carried out and a number of other items capable of accessing the internet were also seized but none of these contained any indecent pictures of children.

“The phone was subjected to a full examination by Police Scotland’s cyber unit, where 50 indecent images were discovered, all of female children aged between five and 13.”

Four of the still images were in the worst category, 10 were in category B and 36 at category C. The fiscal depute passed a report of the pictures to the sheriff, but did not read it out in court.

Sheriff John Hamilton said: “This sentence is all about the protection of children.”

Campbell was ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work with supervision for 12 months.