By MAXINE McARTHUR

A SHERIFF blasted an “arrogant” Anniesland paedophile as he jailed him over a sickening stash of more than 20,000 indecent images which included pictures of babies being abused.

James Simpson sat in the Dumbarton Sheriff Court dock with his head bowed as Sheriff William Gallacher told him he was going to prison.

The 58-year-old previously admitted taking, making or permitting indecent images and pseudo-photographs of children to be taken, between July 2012 and January 2017 at a property in Campsie Drive, Glasgow.

He also admitted having the images in his possession between the same dates.

The Netherton Avenue man’s defence solicitor told the court on Tuesday, February 13 her client was making a “positive contribution” to someone else’s life by caring for his mother.

She alluded to a report by a doctor which confirmed her client had recognised the “sexual motive” of his crimes – which he had not done previously – which, she said, suggested he may respond well to treatment.

But Sheriff Gallacher said the issue remained a “serious matter”, and told Simpson he had showed a “level of arrogance”.

The solicitor replied her client “accepts that he is arrogant”.

As reported in the Evening Times’ sister title, the Clydebank Post, sickening images of babies being seriously sexually assaulted were discovered among a cache of more than 20,000 indecent images found by police at Simpson’s home.

One horrific image depicted a three-month-old tot being sexually abused by a man. The images were found on three devices belonging to Simpson.

The extent of Simpson’s shocking collection of indecent images was outlined by fiscal depute Kevin Doherty during a previous court hearing.

He said: “Police received information that indecent images were to be found at the property in Bearsden. Police, acting on information, obtained a search warrant and attended the address at 8am on January 10, 2017.

“A systematic search was carried out and police recovered three devices, found in the accused’s office in the garden area of the property. And the accused confirmed he owned and used each of them [the devices].”

Simpson said to officers: “Give that to your cyber boys because that’s what you are looking for.”

An analysis of the devices was carried out and in total 20,773 indecent images were found – some still images, others moving images.

Sheriff Gallacher told Simpson: “Over a period of years – not a fleeting day, not a fleeting incident –you were able to control material that was of the most disgraceful nature. It’s a matter for this court and every court to identify that behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated in the community. You plead guilty at an early stage, [but] I’m not entirely sure you are particularly remorseful, other than the fact that you have been caught. I’m not entirely sure you have the reflection you need to change, other than the fact you have been caught.”

Simpson was sentenced to 16 months in jail, reduced from 24 due to his guilty plea.