MORE than 100 images of extreme pornography - including explicit bestiality - were found on a pensioner's laptop after a police search of his Largs home.

Officers discovered the vile photos on 73-year-old Colin Wilson's device after a swoop on his home in Glenacre Drive armed with a search warrant.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard how officers arrived at around 8.20am and was told that a laptop was recovered from a desk in the study before an examination of the password-protected device was carried out.

Officers found 133 files depicting animals including dogs, horses, donkeys and pigs.

After being arrested and cautioned and taken to a police office for interview, Wilson said he had been using the laptop to watch porn, but denied downloading anything of a criminal nature.

He was in the dock on Friday after eventually admitting having the content between October 23, 2018 and September 29, 2020.

His defence solicitor told the court Wilson has been married for 44 years with two grown-up children and is now retired, having worked as an IBM engineer for 30 years.

The solicitor said: "It is sad to see somebody of his age appearing in court for this type of offence.

"He has never been in trouble before.

"The circumstances are that in 2018 he had a devastating diagnosis of prostate cancer. It was around that time that the offence first occurred."

The solicitor said that a criminal justice social work report prepared for the sentencing hearing "touched on some of the difficulties he faced" after learning of the illness, adding that this behaviour was "out of character".

The solicitor added: "Appearing before the court has caused him considerable shame, embarrassment and distress.

"The report found that he is at no risk of re-offending and there has been no offending since.

"He does not pose any risk of serious harm.

"Because of ongoing treatment he would not be suitable for a community payback order."

Sheriff George Jamieson said that whilst the offence did not carry sex offender notification requirements, it was 'not a victimless crime'.

Wilson, who the court was told has since moved out of the area, was fined £1,500.