Pensioner jailed for four years over massive child abuse image collection

A pensioner who amassed what is thought to be the largest collection of child sexual abuse material ever seized by police in Scotland has been jailed for four years.

Alan MacPherson, 83, from Stenhousemuir, was found to have more than two million images on various electronic devices after his home was raided in 2025.

More than 805,000 were identified as depicting child sexual abuse - much of it in the most serious category - while the overwhelming scale of his collection meant much of material was not checked and categorised.

MacPherson was told by Sheriff Mayram Labaki that the scale of his crime was "exceptional".

The sheriff said: "The quantity [of images] was so great that a substantial proportion could not be examined and categorised by forensic examiners.

"Every image records the abuse or exploitation of a child. The possession and circulation of such material perpetuates that abuse."

MacPherson will also be supervised for three years following his release from jail and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

He previously admitted downloading the material over a 14-year period.

Sheriff Labaki added: "Your views towards your offending and your victims are unconscionable.

"I refer specifically to the passages in the [social work] report where you state that not only were the children consenting, but they were willing participants.

"Your attitude is unremorseful".