Erwin Ian Schmid Child Sexual Abuser in Wester Hailes

An individual from Edinburgh faces the possibility of imprisonment after authorities discovered a collection of child abuse images on his device.

Erwin Ian Schmid was apprehended after police raided his residence in January of the previous year, uncovering visual material depicting young children as young as four years old subjected to sexual abuse by adults.

On his mobile phone, officers found more than 1100 images, many illustrating the sexual exploitation of minors.

The Sheriff Court was informed that the 51-year-old also possessed particularly sadistic images, showing young victims restrained with ropes and tape during abuse.

Schmid, residing in Wester Hailes, appeared before the court on Thursday and admitted to possessing the images from September 15, 2021, to January 7, 2022.

Prosecutor Rachel Hill explained that police acted on intelligence concerning the possession of illegal material, leading to a raid on his one-bedroom ground floor flat on January 10 last year.

A mobile phone was taken as evidence, and a forensic analysis uncovered 1116 images, with 38 classified as the most severe Category A material.

The victims depicted in the images were primarily female, although some males, aged between four and 18, were also shown.

Defence solicitor David Storrie acknowledged Schmid’s previous convictions but requested that bail be maintained until sentencing.

The sheriff, Graeme Watson, approved bail under conditions, including a prohibition on contact with anyone under 18 and restrictions on internet and computer use.

The court ordered Schmid to be registered as a sex offender and warned him that sentencing options, including custody, remain open for the next hearing.