An Ardersier man who downloaded three videos and eight still indecent images of children escaped a jail sentence yesterday.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 21 year old Brandon Wondin of Station Road, was “immature and had taken steps to address his problem by seeking treatment”.
Defence solicitor Neil Wilson said Wondin was “exploring his sexuality” and knew what he was doing was wrong.
“It was a pattern of offending that could have led him doing more serious things. He expressed his relief that he was caught.
“This was two short bursts of downloading while his parents were away and he was exploring his sexuality. He needs intervention and counselling rather than simply punishment.” Mr Wilson added.
The court heard he obtained the material using an iPhone between October, 2015 and January last year.
Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court, the 21-year-old admitted downloading and possessing the images, retrieved after a police search of his home on January 10 last year.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart said the combined running time of the videos was five minutes and 15 seconds.
He added that all the images – both videos and stills – featured boys estimated to be between seven and twelve years of age.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson ordered Wondin to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, placed him under supervision and on the Sex Offender’s Register for three years.
He was also instructed to participate in a sex offender’s programme.