May 2013 Child abuse images pervert escapes jail A pervert who told police he was “a bit sick” after they discovered a stash of hundreds of abusive images of children as young as two has escaped jail. Russell Simpson, 33, of West Mains, was handed down a three-year community payback order when he appeared for sentencing at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week. Sheriff Shiona Waldron also placed him on the sex offenders’ register for three years and ordered he complete 300 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. As part of the payback order, Simpson will also be under supervision for the next three years. Simpson previously pled guilty to taking or permitting to be taken, or making indecent photos or pseudo-photos of children between December 29, 2010, and May 23 last year at his West Mains home. He further admitted to being in possession of indecent photos or pseudo-photos between the same dates in the house he shares with his parents. Simpson was arrested after officers raided his home. They had been given information about an internet address which had been involved in “consistently and on an ongoing basis” downloading indecent images of children. Police recovered 140 still images and 240 moving images from his laptop. They ranged from level one to level five in the categories of indecent images. There were four still images and three moving images of level five – the worst category – found on Simpson’s laptop. And an external hard-drive, containing 67 moving images and one still image under category five, was also found by police. Further moving and still indecent images ranging from level one to four were found on the hard-drive. The court heard at an earlier hearing that, during questioning by police, Simpson made a full admission to downloading indecent images and sharing them online. Depute Fiscal Amanda Gallagher added Simpson told officers he was “a bit sick” and “a porn addict who needed help” and claimed he was abused as a child himself.