An offshore worker has admitted downloading indecent images and videos of children as young as six months old.
James Webster, whose address was given as Maree Terrace, Ellon, also pleaded guilty to possessing a stun gun.
The 48-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend told the court that police were tipped off by the National Crime Agency after they discovered a device linked to Webster was connected to the internet and contained indecent pictures of youngsters.
Police subsequently executed a search warrant at Webster’s house where he told officers he had accidentally accessed an illicit website.
However, he later handed over a USB drive which he told them contained indecent images, a Compaq laptop, a USB drive, a computer tower and a disc.
Police also recovered a stun gun from his kitchen which Webster claimed he did not know was prohibited.
The court heard that in total there were 72 videos recovered from the devices, totalling seven hours and 28 seconds.
Of the videos found, 47 were category A – the most serious grade – nine category B and 16 category C.
Cyber crime officers also discovered Webster had used a number of search terms, including “paedophile fiction” and “pre-teen videos”.
Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence till next month to allow reports to be prepared, and to determine whether a restriction of liberty order would be necessary.
He also placed Webster on the sex offenders register while he awaits sentence.