A PERVERT who admitted hoarding a vile stash of child abuse images at his village home has been spared jail.

Andrew Thomson, 37, downloaded 1,429 illegal images on computer equipment also used by his mum and brother at the house they shared in Kilbarchan.

Some of the files showed girls as young as two being raped.

Thomson’s warped desire to see kids being sexually abused led to his innocent brother, John, being arrested under suspicion of downloading illegal images.

The details emerged earlier this year when Thomson appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court to admit his guilt.

Procurator fiscal depute Keri Marshall told the court that officers raided the family home on December 8, 2017.

She said: “The accused stated, ‘This is nothing to do with my mum’ and the accused’s brother said, ‘My mum is innocent and I’m innocent and I’m waiting on a confession from him.’

“The accused and his brother were both detained and taken to Greenock police office.”

After seizing a laptop, hard drive and tower computer, officers discovered Thomson had pictures and videos that were banned.

He pleaded guilty to the two charges he faced – downloading child abuse files between May 2016 and November 2017 and possessing them between May 2016 and December 2017.

Sheriff Seith Ireland called for background reports ahead of sentencing and adjourned the case until last week.

When the accused returned to the dock to learn his fate, defence solicitor advocate Bob Mitchell said his client was “socially isolated” and had experienced problems with substance misuse.

He told the court arrangements had been made to try to find Thomson accommodation elsewhere due to “issues surrounding his current address,” which is understood to be in relation to graffiti being written on the wall of his home when his crimes came to light.

After hearing that Thomson was “a minimum risk” of repeating his offences, Sheriff Ireland spared him jail, saying it was better for society for him to remain a free man.

He added: “I form the view that this is something, just, where an alternative to custody is appropriate, where you can be treated, as treatment is an important part for the protection of the public for the future.”

Sheriff Ireland placed Thomson on a three-year Community Payback Order, which will see him supervised by social workers and attending a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders.

He was also given 12 months to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for three years.

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