Police discovered a disturbing stash of child abuse images at the home of Hugh Macpherson, an IT expert employed by a firm providing services to the UK Government.

The vile collection was found when authorities seized over 30 devices from the loft of Macpherson's Barrhead house.

Concerns have been raised about potential access to sensitive information while Macpherson worked for the government.

Macpherson, 37, was employed by Glasgow-based Iomart as a data storage systems designer. He pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children and bestiality between June 2018 and March 2021, including images in the most severe category.

Yesterday at Paisley Sheriff Court, Macpherson was sentenced to a Community Payback Order and placed on the sex offenders register for three years.

Sheriff Eoin McGinty ordered him to be supervised by social workers and participate in a program designed to rehabilitate sex offenders.

A source close to the case stated: "Considering Macpherson's IT skills and expertise, it's remarkable they found anything at all. One would expect him to have covered his tracks effectively. It seems he completely forgot about the images."