A BORDERS man has been jailed for 16 months after admitting a second offence of possessing indecent videos and images of children on his mobile phone.

David Keddie, 41, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at house in Chris Paterson Place, in Galashiels, on March 16 last year.

Alasdair Fay, prosecuting, told Selkirk Sheriff Court the accused was participating in an adult chatroom and had made certain remarks during an electronic conversation which raised concerns that any children around him could be at risk.

But an investigation found that it was someone writing about their fantasies and there were no children involved.

However, Mr Fay said that during the course of the investigation, devices were analysed and on a mobile phone 85 indecent videos and images in Category A, which is the most serious, were found.

There were also 27 in Category B and one in Category C.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had complied with his bail conditions and was co-operative with the police during the investigation.

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He admitted Keddie, who has since moved from Selkirk to Perth, had a directly analogous previous conviction from 2018.

Sheriff Kenneth Maciver told Keddie the court had no option but to impose a custodial sentence due to the previous conviction.

He added the abuse of children had to be dealt with in a serious and significant way.

The sheriff said: “This is the second time you have been found in possession of indecent images of children.

“You have a previous conviction in 2018.

“Back then you were given a Community Pay Back Order which involved getting treatment and courses to stop it happening again.

“But it has not been successful, that is obvious.

“I deal with the public interest and I have to protect the public interest from offending such as this.”

The jail sentence was reduced from two years to 16 months due to the early guilty plea.

Keddie was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for 10 years.