August 2011 Ian Robertson given probation over indecent images A 49-year-old care worker who admitted downloading and possessing thousands of indecent images of children has been placed on probation for three years. Ian Robertson left his mobile phone at a Richmond Fellowship office in Glasgow. A colleague who checked it discovered hundreds of indecent images. Police later found 5,507 indecent images on his home computer. Robertson must also carry out 160 hours unpaid work and cannot use the internet without supervision. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how one of Robertson’s colleagues noticed the phone lying in the office and picked it up to see who it belonged to. After being unable to confirm its owner from the contacts section, she checked the media entries, where she found the indecent images. Probation order Police were called and the phone – which contained 748 indecent images – was traced to Robertson, who was later arrested. While being interviewed, he told officers that the images were “mere fantasies”. Robertson’s home was also searched and further images were found on a laptop and computer discs. Passing sentence Sheriff Sam Cathcart told Robertson: “I am prepared to deal with this by way of a probation order with additional conditions.” Sheriff Cathcart added that Robertson would also be placed on the sex offenders register for three years.