AN ALEXANDRIA paedophile was snared with more than 60,000 indecent images of young children – including videos he filmed himself of naked girls as young as five.

Henry Black, 50, of Thomas Street, downloaded indecent pictures of young children for more than six years, from on November 4, 2010, and until January 26 this year.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard last week that Police Scotland’s Cyber Crime Unit at Helen Street found 62,000 pictures on his computer and a mobile telephone with children as young as four being sexually abused.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and also admitted being in possession of the images.

The offences took place at his former home in Moodiesburn, Glasgow.

The pervert sat in the dock, head bowed and shame faced throughout the hearing showing little emotion, as Prosecutor Agnes Meek read out a prepared narrative to Sheriff Petra Collins.

Black also pleaded guilty to three other charges, which also happened within his Moodiesburn home.

Between December 1, 2011 and August 31, 2015, the court heard, he intentionally engaged in a sexual activity in the presence of a five-year-old girl, taking pictures of her while she was naked. He also recorded the toddler bathing and showering with the intention of looking at the images.

Black pleaded guilty to a fifth charge of taking or permitting to be taken at his home, more indecent images of children, in particular the five year-old girl as well as two other young girls also aged five. This offence also happened between December 1, 2011 and August 31, 2015, when the girls were aged between five and nine.

Ms Meek said: “He was interviewed under recorded conditions at Coatbridge Police Office where he made full admissions.

“There were 3,000 indecent images found on the first computer. He was charged and held in custody pending a court appearance.

“Further inquiries found pictures and videos of young children naked on his living room floor.

“A further interview took place and he admitted taking the images, including intimate ones of the young girls showering.

“He said he was addicted to porn.

“A full examination was carried out by the Cyber Crime Unit who found 62,000 still images and 379 moving images, some of them in the worst category. There was one of a four year-old female child being sexually abused by an adult male.

“A number of the moving images were taken at his home with him instructing the girls what to do.”

Defence lawyer Ian Brechoney told the court: “This was a true reflection of the circumstances. Given that reports will be required to be prepared I would ask that the court continue his bail.”

Sheriff Petra Collins told Black: “These are extremely serious offences and given that you are a first offender I am required to obtain full background reports on you.

“I will defer sentence against you and call for a criminal justice social work report and a risk assessment as to the danger you pose to young children.”

Black was put on the sex offenders register and was told the length of time he would be on the register would be decided when he appears for sentence.

A report was also called for from Stop It Now, an agency which councils sex offenders, and where Black had been attending voluntarily recently.

Sentence was deferred on Black until January next year.