Keith man (29) distributed hundreds of images of child and animal abuse

A KEITH man who downloaded more than 170 videos of children and animals being abused by adults distributed a handful to an acquaintance.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Kenneth Hird (29), of Alexandra Road, also had 398 still images of varying levels of depravity on electronic devices.

Fiscal depute Susan Love told Sheriff David Harvie that the obscene material involved girls and boys aged between two and 15 and was obtained between March 4, 2020 and April 20, 2022.

She added that three of the videos, all of which were readily accessible, had been sent to another individual on April 15, 2022, and police experts also found material involving adults engaged in sexual activity with animals.

Ms Love said that police had obtained a search warrant for Hird's parents' house on March 8, 2022, after he uploaded a compilation of videos involving children.

Officers raided the property on April 20, 2022, and seized his phones and electronic devices.

"In total, the videos ran to 18 hours and 33 minutes," Ms Love went on. "He made a no comment interview to police."

Defence solicitor Patrick O'Dea said his client was a first offender and a background report would be required. He reserved his mitigation until then.

Hird had sentence deferred until September 25 and was immediately placed on the Sex Offender's Register.