Pervert had more than 100,000 child porn images
A judge has described a man who had more than 100,000 images of child porn at his home as a 'solitary and sad' individual.
Retired accountant Malcolm McLachlan had another 250,000 photos saved on his computer that police did not have the resources to look through, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.
The officer who led the investigation, Detective Constable Pete Partington, said it was rare to find such a large haul.
The photos and films included children under the age of five with many of them catergorised as level four and five - the most disgusting images of child abuse.
Police raided the 66-year-old's home in Southmead Road, Fareham, after tracing a software program he had been using online.
He pleaded guilty to 20 charges of making indecent images and two of possession of indecent images between 2006 and 2008.
Daniel Reilly, defending, said McLachlan had lived with his mother and cared for her until she died shortly after finding out about the charges.
'His life therefore was one of simply remaining inside, caring for his mother, dealing with the stress of that situation and trying to cope with his own depression,' he said.
Judge Ian Pearson said he had taken account of McLachlan's mental state and his personal circumstances in deciding to suspend the prison sentence.
'You have been responsible for the downloading of tens of thousands of images, the total involved is over 100,000,' he said.
'These are not victimless crimes.
'The children involved have been abused and abused in the most painful way for the sexual gratification of persons such as yourself.
'Offences of this nature therefore are very serious.
'You are a sad and solitary figure and rarely go out.'
McLachlan was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years.
He will have to sign on to the sex offenders' register for the next 10 years.
He also has to pay 3,300 in court costs.
After the hearing Det Con Partington said: 'It's very rare that you find someone in possession of that amount.
'There was a lot of computer equipment.'
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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