MORE than 100 images of extreme pornography - including explicit bestiality - were found on a pensioner's laptop after a police search of his former home.

Officers discovered the disgusting photos on 73-year-old Colin Wilson's device in September 2020 and the OAP was sentenced for the offence last week (Friday, January 20).

The procurator fiscal depute told the hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court that police attended Wilson's old address in Glenacre Drive, Largs in the morning on the day in question with a search warrant.

At around 8.20am a laptop was recovered from a desk in the study and an examination of the password-protected device was carried out.

Officers found 133 files of extreme porn depicting animals including dogs, horses, donkeys and pigs involved in sexual intercourse.

After being arrested and cautioned the following day and taken to a police office for interview, Wilson said he had been using the laptop to watch adult male and female and female and female porn.

He was cautioned and charged and replied 'no comment'.

The charge stated that he was in possession of the vile content between October 23, 2018 and September 29, 2020.

His defence solicitor told the court Wilson has been married for 44 years with two grown-up children, and is now retired having worked as an IBM engineer for 30 years.

The solicitor said: "It is sad to see somebody of his age appearing in court for this type of offence.

"He has never appeared in court before.

"The circumstances are that in 2018 he had a devastating diagnosis of prostate cancer. It was around that time that the offence first occurred."

The solicitor said that a criminal justice social work report prepared for the sentencing hearing "touched on some of the difficulties he faced" after learning of the illness, adding that this behaviour is "out of character".

The solicitor added: "Appearing before the court has caused considerable shame, embarrassment and distress.

"The report found that he is at no risk of re-offending and there has been no offending since.

"He does not pose any risk of serious harm.

"Because of ongoing treatment he would not be suitable for a community payback order."

Sheriff George Jamieson said that whilst the offence does not carry sex offender notification requirements, it is "not an entirely victimless crime".

Wilson, now of Newcastle, County Down, was fined £1,500 plus a victim surcharge of £75.