Alan MacPherson, an 83-year-old pensioner from Stenhousemuir, Scotland, has pleaded guilty to amassing what is believed to be the largest hoard of child abuse images ever seized by Scottish Police. The collection is understood to comprise two million indecent images.
MacPherson appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court and admitted to downloading, possessing, and distributing indecent material over a period of more than 14 years, spanning from January 1, 2012, to January 20, 2026. This included the creation of indecent images.
His solicitor-advocate, Stephen Biggam, informed the court that MacPherson is deaf and suffers from macular degeneration. Biggam also stated that since his arrest, MacPherson had "continued to go about his business and had not been any centre of attraction in the community, as is his way."
Sheriff Craig Harris acknowledged the gravity of the offenses, stating they were "far too serious for me to proceed without a report." The sheriff noted the "nature and the scale and the time over which the offences have been committed, the risk you pose when you are at liberty, and the likely outcome by way of sentence." Consequently, MacPherson was remanded into custody and placed on the Sex Offenders Register. A background report has been called for ahead of a further hearing scheduled for September 8.
During the court proceedings, Sheriff Harris issued a warning to members of the public present in the gallery, suggesting they could leave and return later, indicating that the details might be difficult for some to hear.