A PAEOPHILE from the Three Towns who was charged with importing a child sex doll into the UK has admitted amassing a sick hoard of images portraying child abuse and torture pornography.

Thomas Highet is behind bars awaiting sentence after admitting downloading and possessing the disgusting images at his home in Townhead Street, Stevenston.

The 66-year-old pleaded guilty to taking, permitting to be taken or making indecent images depicting child abuse between May 23, 2021 and June 19 last year.

He also admitted possessing the images at his home between May 2021 and June 23, 2022.

Highet pleaded guilty to a third charge of being in possession of extreme images between January 18 and June 23 last year – including depictions of the torture and mutilation of a human.

However, as part of a plea deal, prosecutors accepted Highet’s plea of not guilty to the Crown’s allegation that he imported a child sex doll into the UK.

Highet, who was described in court papers as a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, was represented by defence solicitor Gillian Swanney during a hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

Sentence was deferred and he was remanded in custody