Brian Ball, 53, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Wednesday, June 17, having previously pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse images at his home at Thistleneuk, Old Kilpatrick between October 2005 and May 2014.

He was due to be sentenced then but the sentence was deferred until June 26 for a medical report to be obtained to determine whether he is fit to carry out unpaid work in the community.

The latest deferral is the most recent in a line of postponements, prompting Sheriff William Gallacher to say: “This case might have called more often than any other case in recent months.” His lawyer, Gail Campbell, told the sheriff that Ball went straight to the GP immediately after a previous court appearance but she did not yet have the medical report.

She said he has health issues, including anxiety and mental health problems.

The court heard previously told social workers putting together a background report that the images were not his responsibility.

Sheriff William Gallacher warned Ball at the time the options open to him for sanctioning his behaviour were ‘limited’ given his stance to social workers.

He said: “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.”