A repeat offender has been jailed for two years after police discovered more than 18,000 child abuse photos and videos at his home in East Kilbride.
Dominic Dalgleish, 24, admitted downloading and possessing indecent images between October 2023 and November last year. He also breached a court order by hiding devices containing the material.
Court details
Dalgleish was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He appeared before Sheriff Linda Nicolson, who noted the seriousness of the offences.
The court heard that Dalgleish had been convicted of similar offences in 2023 and was subject to a community payback order and a five-year sexual offences prevention order. He was also banned from contact with children and from entering playparks, schools or leisure centres.
Discovery of hidden devices
On November 5 last year, police with a search warrant visited his home in Banff Place, East Kilbride. Dalgleish initially told officers he only had a personal computer and a phone. However, a search of the kitchen uncovered an Amazon TV box and a USB stick hidden behind a kickboard. Both devices contained child abuse images.
Prosecutor Calum Frame told the court: "In total police found 17,078 photos and 1,139 videos."
Sentencing
Dalgleish's lawyer said there was "nothing I can say regarding these vile offences" and added that his client "expresses regret and thinks post-release supervision would be a good thing, so there is a glimmer of hope for the future."
Sheriff Nicolson said: "I need hardly say these are very serious offences that cause significant harm. You were convicted on two occasions in 2023 and 2024 of similar offences. You were given non-custodial sentences that were designed to rehabilitate you and reduce the likelihood of further offending. Unfortunately, that has not been successful so far. I take into account that you are a young person. The sentence is less than it would have been if you were an older adult, but I see no alternative to custody."
The two-year sentence was backdated to November when Dalgleish was arrested. He must complete a rehabilitation course on release and will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely. He will also be under close supervision for two and a half years after leaving prison.
