A 58-year-old man who admitted possessing thousands of indecent images of children has been warned that he is “most likely” facing a custodial sentence.
Stephen Bell, of Sandside Road, Mossbank, admitted to taking or permitting to be taken indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children and possessing indecent photos of children with a view to them being distributed or shown by himself or others.
The offences took place between 1 February 2011 and 1 February 2016 at his home address or elsewhere.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that the offences involved “tens of thousands of images”. A fuller narrative will be given when Bell’s defence agent Tommy Allan is present, with the case due back in court on 5 July.
Sheriff Philip Mann said they were “very serious offences” and warned Bell that, while it was not inevitable, he should be prepared for a jail term.
Shetland man who racked up massive child porn collection warned he faces jail sentence
