The boss of a north-east offshore firm has been found with thousands of child sex abuse images on his computer.
Baxter ‘Harry’ Anderson, 67, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted hoarding more than 2,600 images of children on his devices.
Police also found more than 20 videos that continued child sex abuse material.
The court heard Anderson, who is a director of Savannah Marine Surveyors had created the first file on his laptop more than 12 years ago.
When police raided his home they found pictures and videos of abuse on his laptop, a computer tower and several pen drives at his home.
Fiscal depute Dylan Middleton told the court that on October 21 last year Police Scotland was granted a search warrant for Anderson’s home.
“At 8.45am on November 3 2021 the accused attended a pre-arranged appointment at Bucksburn Police Station where he was made aware of the existence of the warrant,” Mr Middleton said.
“He agreed to accompany detective constables back to his home address.
“At around 10am the warrant was executed and a systematic search of the locus was conducted.
“A number of items were found, including a computer tower, three pen drives and a black HP laptop and charger.
“The accused identified the devices as belonging to him and provided police with passcode details.
“It was established that the accused was the sole user of the devices.
“Preliminary examinations were carried out and all devices were found to contain child sexual abuse material.”
Police discovered thousands of images
An examination by the police cybercrime team found 62 Category A images, 50 Category B images and 2,538 that were considered Category C.
In total, 2,650 still images and 21 images of child sexual abuse material were found.
The videos had a total run time of 54 minutes and 15 seconds.
Anderson pleaded guilty to one charge of downloading indecent photographs of children and a further child of possessing indecent photographs involving children.
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge called for reports to be carried out on his client.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin deferred sentence on Anderson, of Backhill of Little Gight, Aberdeenshire, in order for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment to be carried out.
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