A Clydebank sex offender is back on the register for being caught with indecent images of children as young as three or four months.

Dylan Bell pleaded guilty to taking or permitting to be taken indecent photographs, and to possession of indecent photos.

The 25-year-old was immediately put on the sex offenders register ahead of his sentencing.

It is his second time being registered, having been put on it in 2016 when he was 18 for repeatedly recording images of a woman without her knowledge or consent and sending them to someone else.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard on December 12 that police had gone to Bell's property in Garscadden View on July 13, 2022.

They arrived with a search warrant and found two devices. They were given the pin number for the iPhone XR and officers found photos of children.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Reid told the court subsequent investigation of the phone found a total of 96 still images.

Of those, 34 were category A, the most serious, with one showing a baby of three or four months. Another 26 were at category B and 36 at category C.

He pleaded guilty to taking or permitting to take photos between November 30, 2021 and April 30, 2022, and to possession of the photos.

The fiscal confirmed that Bell hadn't taken the photos himself but possession of indecent images means he permitted them to be taken.

Bell's defence solicitor said her client was "relatively young" and had poor health at the moment.

She told the court: "I'm concerned about the nature of his conviction which is not that long ago."

Sheriff William Gallacher, who sentenced Bell in 2016 to three years of supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work, noted the previous offence.

He told him that "children would not be abused" but for people like Bell creating the demand.

"These are serious charges," said Sheriff Gallacher. "I'm concerned you have a conviction of a sexual nature some time ago.

"If it was more recent, I would have no basis for letting you retain your liberty."

The sheriff added that he would consider all potential sentences but Bell's age meant regulations required him to consider potential rehabilitation.

Sentence was deferred until January 23, 2024, and Bell remains on bail.