A Prestwick creep caught hoarding thousands of sickening child sex abuse images in his home he shares with his wife has been added to the sex offender’s register.

Mark Cashman pleaded guilty to a charge of taking, permitting to be taken or making indecent images of children between November 11, 2009, and February 20, 2023, after downloading copies of the pictures.

The 51-year-old also admitted possessing the same images in a firestick device and computer 'locked in a separate bedroom' at his address in Ayr Road, when he appeared in court last week [Monday, July 22].

The Procurator fiscal depute said: “He [first] appeared on petition on March 20, 2023, appearing on a police undertaking. He was committed for further examination and released on bail. 

“Following an investigation by the national online child abuse scheme, police attended his home address on February 20, 2023, in possession of a sheriff search warrant.

"They were allowed entry by the accused's wife, and was found present in a separate bedroom which was locked from the inside at the time.

“Police recovered a desktop tower unit and amazon firestick. Both were confirmed relevant and he confirmed ownership of the devices. 

"Police officers cautioned and charged the accused, who made no reply. 

“The device, the firestick, was noted to be connected to tower unit.

"Multiple times in [the period libelled], web history was found with child sex abuse search terminology.  

"Cybercrime analysis of the firestick showed, in category A, two accessible images, category B four unique accessible images, category C, 477 images, 473 accessible [not having been previously deleted].

"These images were predominantly female children of three to 17 years of age. 

"The description of the images provided I don’t propose to read in court. 

Further moving images found were: “Category A, 68; Category B, 12; and Category C, three, these contained male and females aged six to 16. 

“The tower unit, had 347 Category A still images, 327 accessible; 500 Category B, 435 accessible; 3,654 Category C, 3,615 accessible, a total of 4,501 unique images.

"These were female, zero, newborn, to 16.

"The tower unit also contained moving images: 676 Category A , 634 accessible; 301 Category B, 288 accessible; and 84 Category C, 75 accessible, totalling 1,061 moving images.

"These contained children aged one to 16, predominantly female." 

Defence solicitor John Gallagher said he had nothing to say in mitigation “at this juncture", and expected "a full range of reports" were required before sentencing. 

He added: “He is aware he will be subject to the notification requirements”. 

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said: “Sentencing is deferred in order for appropriate risk assessment and social work enquiries to be carried out. You will be expected to cooperate fully. 

“There will also be a restriction of liberty order assessment and you will now be subject to the notification requirements.” 

Bail was continued for Cashman, who appeared in court accompanied by family and he will return for sentencing at a later date.