Fife man guilty of possessing 'extreme' images

Mark Duthie admitted committing the offences over a period of more than two years and the images included adults having sex with animals.

Duthie, 30, of Greenfield View, Leven, admitted that between December 9, 2013 and February 17 last year at his home he was in possession of indecent photographs of children.

He also admitted that between August 17, 2015 and February 17 last year he was in possession of extreme pornographic images depicting in an explicit and realistic way adults performing sexual acts upon animals.

Depute fiscal Claire Bremner previously told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that a search warrant was obtained and executed at Duthie’s home on February 17 when he was present.

“They searched the property and recovered a mobile phone and a lap-top. The devices were found to have indecent images of children.”

She went on, “The accused was interviewed and during the course of this he made a full admission.

“He said he’d searched for the images for the purposes of sexual gratification. He said he had spoken via a messenger application to like-minded individuals.”

Defence solicitor Robert Hunter said, “He is fully conscious his behaviour was horrendous. He is full of remorse for he has done.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry placed Duthie on a community payback order with three years of supervision and he will take part in a group work programme.

He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.