Creep had images of children and extreme pornography involving animals

Shaun Paul Latham, from Greenock, was convicted of three charges following a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court this week.

Police found more than 550 images on Latham’s phone, in a file labelled ‘XXX’, after raiding his home in the town.

As well as depictions of child sexual exploitation, some of the pictures also showed extreme pornography involving animals.

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Shaun Latham (Image: Newsquest) The 38-year-old’s home was searched by police in March 2023, with two mobile phones and a laptop being seized and analysed, reports our sister title The Greenock Telegraph. 

Expert witnesses told the trial that an Apple wallet and other apps on the phone were set up in Latham’s name, and that they had come to the conclusion he was the sole user of the device.

One witness also noted that ‘large amounts’ of searches for content which showed pornography involving animals were found during analysis.

Some of the images on the phone had been moved from the ‘XXX’ file to the recycle bin.

A special defence of incrimination was lodged on Latham’s behalf prior to the trial.

Giving evidence in his own defence, Latham told the court that the material must have been downloaded on to his phone by somebody else.

(Image: Newsquest) He explained that this could have happened while he was involved in ‘chem sex’ parties, both at his home and elsewhere, in which participants were consuming drugs such as cocaine and ketamine.

Jurors heard that people in attendance at these events, some whom were unknown to Latham, would have access to his mobile phone, and that the password for the device was taped to the back of it.

Latham said he allowed his phone to be used to ‘cast’ pornography to a television screen, with some people also using it to order taxis when they were preparing to leave his property.

He told the jury he had offered this explanation to police, as well as telling them he could provide the names and profiles of those who attended the parties if officers could indicate the dates when the images were downloaded.

Latham claimed police took no further action in relation to this.

In her closing remarks to jurors, fiscal depute Maria Murdoch said the evidence heard during the trial was indicative of a ‘calculated act’ by Latham.

She added: “I submit to you that his evidence was the furthest thing from credible and reliable.”

Defending Latham, solicitor Thomas Ferguson reiterated that his client ‘categorically denied’ having any knowledge of the images being on his phone.

Mr Ferguson said: “You may not approve of Mr Latham’s lifestyle.

“You don’t need to. That’s not what’s on trial here.

“Although it may not be an environment you can relate to, it’s an environment that might explain why images were found that Mr Latham had no knowledge of.

“I would suggest that this is a trial that has ended with more questions than answers.

“An explanation has been offered. It cannot be ruled out.”

After less than two hours of deliberation, jurors returned a majority guilty verdict on a charge of taking, permitting to be taken, or making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.

They also found him unanimously guilty of possessing such material between November 2020 and February 2023.

(Image: Newsquest) On the third charge, accusing Latham of possessing images depicting bestiality ‘in an explicit or realistic way’ during the same period, the jury also a unanimous guilty verdict.

Latham had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to attend a hearing in relation to the case at Dumbarton Sheriff Court in November last year.

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan deferred sentence for background reports and for a ‘restriction of liberty order’ assessment.

His bail was continued and he will return to court on April 25.