Man Had 1,073 Child Porn Images

Sentence has been deferred on a former postal worker from Peebles found with more than 1,000 indecent images of children on his computer.

Thomas Marshall, 60, was caught when his e-mail address was found on the computer of another member of an image-swapping gang.

The former Navy seaman admitted three charges of possessing, making and distributing the photographs.

Sentence was deferred and Marshall was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Peebles Sheriff Court was told that many of the recovered 1,073 pictures on Marshall’s computer fell into the worst gradings used by the authorities.

A joint operation between the American Postal Inspection Authority and UK agencies led police to Marshall’s door in November 2006.

Investigators found hundreds of photographs in numerous computer files and folders.

The photographs were exchanged using various networking sites.

The court was told that Marshall’s obsession with child pornography began after he became impotent following an operation for prostate cancer six years ago.

It also heard that he had been abused as a child.

Sheriff John Horsburgh deferred sentence until 7 November for background reports.