Inverness teenager had indecent images of children – including a baby

A boy began downloading indecent images of children in November 2018 when he was aged around 14 and continued until police caught up with him in a raid in January 2022.

During that time, Struan Nicol – now aged 19 years – had amassed still images and videos, including five of the most extreme classified videos, one of which involved a six-month-old baby.

Nicol, of Friars Street, Inverness appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson and admitted downloading to two devices a total of 18 videos and 70 still images – some of which were both accessible and inaccessible.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told when police went to his home he tried to conceal one of the phones.

The first offender, who also admitted a breach of bail by accessing the internet, told police when interviewed: "I went onto Snapchat because I was bored."

Sentence has been deferred until July 24 for a background report and an assessment for a sex offender's rehabilitation programme. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register – the length of which will be determined at sentencing.

Nicol's bail was continued.