Court / Supervision and unpaid work for man who had child abuse images

A MAN from Mossbank narrowly avoided jail when he appeared for sentencing at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday on a charge of possessing indecent photos and videos of children.

John Masterman, of Leaside, previously admitted the charge which was committed at an address in Lerwick on 21 June.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court that police had been able to extract and examine 28 photos and 74 videos found on Masterman’s electronic devices.

Of those 39 were classed to be in the most serious category, including the abuse of very young children.

Defending the 40-year-old, solicitor Tommy Allan said the offending stemmed from a difficult time for his client for which he was now subject of a separate community payback order.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told Masterman had his criminal justice report not been anything other than positive he would have had no hesitation in sending him to jail.

But he imposed a further community payback order on Masterman, including a two year period of supervision and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Masterman will also be put on the sex offender’s register for two years.