Paisley paedophile caught after uploading sick child abuse video to social media

A Paisley paedophile was snared after he uploaded a vile video of child sexual exploitation to social media.

Twisted Scott Cuthbertson shared a Category A clip – considered to be the most severe category – of child sex abuse onto Snapchat in July 2021. The 21-year-old’s behaviour was flagged to Police Scotland who then raided his Hawkhead Road home in October 2022.

Cops seized Cuthbertson’s iPhone to carry out an in-depth analysis after they found messages and images which they found to be concerning. Analysis of the phone found Cuthbertson had images of child sexual exploitation and abuse, reports the Record.

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Procurator fiscal depute Ms McKenna told Paisley Sheriff Court the public protection unit of Police Scotland’s K division – which covers Renfrewshire – received information on Cuthbertson.

Ms McKenna explained: “On July 16, 2021, the accused shared a Category A video into the social media platform Snapchat.

“The device used was connected to the internet and registered to a property in Hawkhead Road and so a search warrant was sought and granted.”

The court heard officers turned up at Cuthbertson’s home on October 5, 2022, while he was still in his bed. Ms McKenna added: “Officers attended around 8.25am and the accused’s father permitted access to the home.

“The only other person present within the property was the accused who was in his bed. At 8.30am the warrant and nature of the enquiry was explained to the accused before the property was photographed and a search carried out.

“The accused and his father were asked about the ownership of an iPhone that was within the bedroom. The accused stated that was his phone.

“Police conducted a preview search and noted nothing immediately but a number of chats and images found to be alarming, and they made the decision to take the phone back to the office for an in-depth search. Other devices were seized and nothing was found and then returned back.”

Ms McKenna told the court a digital forensic report was carried out which found there were three images and one video depicting child sexual exploitation and abuse on Cuthbertson’s iPhone. These images were Category B and C and involved female children aged between eight and 15 years old.

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Ms McKenna added: “On October 5, the accused attended at Greenock police station where he was informed he was under arrest.

“He made no reply to caution at common law and was interviewed where he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions. No explanation why these images were on his phone was provided.

“He made no reply to caution.”

Cuthbertson admitted that between December 30, 2019 and October 5, 2022, he was in possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. Defence agent Anthony Boland told the court that Cuthbertson has been on bail for this matter with “no problems” since October 2022.

Mr Boland added: “Given the gravity of the charge, he appreciates this crosses the custody threshold.”

Sheriff Clare Arias deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports and to assess Cuthbertson’s suitability for a restriction of liberty order assessment.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register meantime with the duration to be determined at his sentencing diet on July 30.

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