News / Man sentenced for possessing indecent images
A MAN from Lerwick who possessed indecent pictures and videos of children has been placed under supervision for over two years and ordered to undertake unpaid work.
Alvar Foster, of St Magnus Street, previously admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court to “taking or permitting to be taken” 88 images and 24 videos on a laptop between 9 and 12 September 2016.
The court previously heard that police uncovered the images while executing a drugs search of the 23-year-old’s flat.
The computer contained pictures in all three categories of indecent images including some of category A, the most serious classification.
Defence agent Tommy Allan told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that the period of offending was “relatively short”, adding that a number of the videos and images had been deleted.
The solicitor said the offences happened while Foster “went down a path” where he quickly realised he did not want to be.
Allan added that while he did not want to be “flippant” about the case, he said it was perhaps an instance where Foster “needs to get out of his bedroom and go out and engage with the rest of the world” more.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank reiterated that there was evidence to show Foster “desisted” from downloading more images.
He said that while the offence was “abhorrent”, sentencing guidelines showed that it was technically a small number of images – many of which were of a low category.
The sheriff placed Foster under supervision for two years and six months, during which time he will have to adhere to notification requirements under the sexual offences act.
He was also given 200 hours of unpaid work, while his laptop was also forfeited.
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