December 2012 Dumbarton man had 17,000 sick images of children A paedophile who hoarded 17,000 sick images of kids on computer equipment at his family home has been jailed for three years. Christopher Brown, 25, was snared following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Paedophile Investigation Unit targeting those who were engaging in sexual offences towards children. Information on Brown’s activities was passed to Strathclyde Police and officers visited the house in Glencairn Road, Dumbarton, on January 13 this year. Dumbarton Sherifff Court heard that a laptop containing over 11,000 images and a hard drive with 5,408 photographs were seized from Brown’s padlocked bedroom. The majority of the images featured young boys aged between three and 15 and a number were of the most serious nature. Examination of the laptop revealed that Brown had made some of the images available for sharing with other internet users. Brown, who wept in court last week, had previously admitted making or taking indecent photographs of children at his home or elsewhere between November 25, 2011 and January 12, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to distributing or showing indecent images on the same dates. Gail Campbell, defending, said her client had demonstrated “genuine remorse” for his actions, describing them as a possible addiction or a compulsion. She added: “He was and remains a fairly isolated young man . Reports indicate some reasons for that but in no way does he use that as an excuse for his behaviour. “He did place himself in these circumstances and did not extricate himself from that behaviour and from the individuals he was coming into contact with on the internet. “Certain images were copied from one machine to another due to the breakdown of a machine. The fact he continued to retain these images does not bode well for him. “He now has an understanding of the fuller picture and the impact this type of offending has on society. He is an individual for whom ongoing treatment and rehabilitation would be necessary. “This offence will not only have a lasting impact on Mr Brown but also on his family . They are already beginning to feel the effects of this offence which has many victims. One of the victims aside from the children involved will be his own family who have committed no offence whatsoever.” Sheriff Tom McCartney said: “I particularly take into account the quantity of images involved in these crimes and I take into account this included a significant number of images of the most extreme kind. “I also take into account that they were methodically organised and stored . Because of the nature of the offence I’m concerned to ensure that the public is protected from serious harm when you are eventually released .” Brown was jailed for three years and will remain on licence for a further three years on his release. He will be subject to notification requirements of the sexual offenders act for an indefinite period.