A 36-YEAR-OLD Berwickshire man found with more than 12,000 indecent images of children has been ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to prison.

Scott Forman, who gave an address in Foulden, began viewing and downloading the images in October 2022, Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told.

The court heard none of the 12,808 images found in his possession were still accessible.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said the shellfish factory worker would view a small number and then delete them, before repeating the process over a period of time.

Sheriff Peter Anderson told Forman that viewing the "vile" pictures was not a victimless crime.

He gave him a six-month home curfew, which means he must stay at home between the hours of 7pm and 5.30am, ordered him to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work and placed his name on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Forman was also given a 27-month community payback order, with the condition he must take part in an internet offenders programme.