A paedophile found with a huge number of indecent images of children has avoided prison.

A sheriff previously described the number of pictures held by Brian Ball as being ‘hundreds or thousands’.

The 60-year-old pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possessing indecent images of minors and to taking or permitting to be taken indecent pictures of children between October 2005 and May last year.

He further admitted possessing extreme pornographic images depicting, in an explicit and realistic way, acts involving sexual activity between a person and an animal.

Ball, of Thistleneuk, Old Kilpatrick, appeared for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week.

Gail Campbell, defending, told the court the report which had been made available indicated there were several medical issues which may have hindered Ball’s ability to carry out unpaid work although he may have been suitable to undertake light duties.

Sheriff William Gallacher previously said Ball’s stance with social workers and apparent initial refusal to accept full responsibility had left him with limited sentencing options, adding at an earlier hearing: “This is not one or two images – we are talking hundreds or thousands and his perspective ‘it’s nothing to do with me’ is very difficult.” Last week he told Ball he had considered sending him to prison.

Sheriff Gallacher said: “The offence to which you pleaded guilty is a serious one.

“It is not an incident which concerns you and no one else. There is harm that is caused to a wide variety of people over a period of time and in serious circumstances. You were involved in this behaviour over a period of time.” Ball was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work within six months. He was placed under supervision for two years and will also be on the sex offenders register for the same period.