A SEX offender who "felt entitled" to view thousands of sick child abuse photos hidden in his computer has been jailed after being arrested at his Prestwick home.

Perverted Mark Cashman was locked up for 20 months at Ayr Sheriff Court and will be subject to an extended sentence for two years on his release from custody.

A recent sentencing hearing was told he had been attacked with a knife for downloading the horrific images, described as "the worst" ever seen.

The 51-year-old - who hoarded abhorrent pictures of children aged from newborn babies to 16 - was given another chance to speak to court social workers before sentence, after complaining of his own "predicament and circumstances", "his own vulnerabilities" and "sense of entitlement to view" the disgusting content, rather than the impact his offending behaviour had on the youngsters.

Cashman previously 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.

He also admitted possessing the same images on a firestick device and computer locked in a separate bedroom at his address on Ayr Road, when he appeared in court earlier this year.

A Crown prosecutor said: “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 and he 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 the tower unit.  

"The 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 procurator fiscal depute added: "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."

At Cashman's sentencing hearing, defence solicitor John Gallagher said: "It’s fair to say there has always been acceptance of his guilt and responsibility for this matter's serious nature.

"He is fully aware the seriousness of the matters, it certainly meets the custody threshold and focussed his attention on trying to avoid the consequences that had unfortunately affected on the original report.

"The supplementary report was another rough ride for Mr Cashman, it is fair to say, and quite properly continually challenged him.

"He had a significant addiction to proscribed medication tramadol, regarding his level of intoxication there was clearly an element of gratification.

"He has been able to make the link between accessing the material and the horrific abuse of the children, that was always accepted.

"He is throwing himself at the mercy of the court today hoping a custodial sentence can be avoided."

The solicitor continued: "She [his partner] was here when pleas were tendered, is not here today [for health reasons] and found his offences abhorrent, but continues to stand by and support him.

"There have been consequences for Mr Cashman in the community I can say, he's had a number of visits from Police Scotland and warnings regarding his safety regarding certain vigilante groups that have targeted him.

"He was assaulted and someone attempted to stab him. Recently police were contacted when photographs of his address were put online.

"This has already had serious consequences for him. He would abide by any [community payback] order."

Sheriff Mhari MacTaggart said: "I have to take a moment to remind myself of the extent of these images and the serious nature of these images and the period over which they were accessed.

"This puts this into the category of a very grave offence. I'm of the view only a custodial sentence is appropriate in the circumstances.

"I have said before and say again, these are not victimless offences, far from it"

Cashman was added to the sex offenders register and will be subject to police notification requirements for 10 years.

Police Scotland said it was unable to release an image of Cashman after being contacted by the Advertiser.