A pervert has been jailed for more than three years for amassing a sick hoard of images portraying child abuse and depictions of human torture.  

Thomas Highet was also charged with importing a child sex doll into the UK but prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea as part of a deal. 

Highet was put on the sex offender register for 10 years and given a five-year prevention order after admitting downloading and possessing the images at his home in Townhead Street, Stevenston. 

The judge placed him on a further sexual offences prevention order on jailing the repeat-offender, adding it was particularly concerning he committed the offences while allowed out on a court order.

The 66-year-old pleaded guilty to taking, permitting to be taken or making indecent images depicting child abuse between May 23, 2021 and June 19 last year.

He also admitted possessing the images at his home between May 2021 and June 23, 2022. 

Highet pleaded guilty to a third charge of being in possession of extreme images between January 18 and June 23 last year, including depictions of the torture and mutilation of a human. 

Highet, who was described in court papers as a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, was previously remanded in custody. 

When he returned to court on Monday, November 6, defence agent Brian Holliman said: "This is a case where there is very little for me that can be said, or that Mr Highet wants said. The offences speak for themselves.

"Given his previous convictions he knows a custodial sentence is inevitable and will be of some duration with the gravity of the offences. 

"There is no mitigation to advise in the plea, he has taken responsibility for his conduct."

Sheriff Colin Bissett said: “Mr Highet, for reasons highlighted, this case is of particular concern to the court. You committed these despicable offenses on a court order designed to prevent this type of offending.

"It is particularly concerning that you simply fail to understand what you are doing is wrong.

"It seems no disposal will bring that upon you, and that is somewhat depressing."

He was jailed for a total of 40 months backdated to when he was remanded on January 12.

As part of his five-year sexual offender prevention order he was prohibited from any contact with any child under 16 and banned from public parks and leisure centres.

He will be required to inform monitoring officers of any electronic devices capable of accessing the internet, permit inspection and provide passwords.

He must not delete any internet browsing history, calls or messages and not download software disguising his online activity.

Highet will also remain subject to standard police notification requirements as a sex offender for 10 years.