An Ashgill man who admitted child porn offences has been put on the sex offenders' register for two years.
Greg Beattie was warned by a sheriff that he was lucky not to be jailed for the offences.
Beattie, 23, admitted downloading and sharing indecent images of children at his home in Rosslyn Road.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard police officers discovered the material in August last year.
Defence agent Diarmid Bruce described Beattie, a computer design graduate, as a loner.
The solicitor added: "He is a first offender and I suggest the public interest can be served by a community payback order.
"He is anxious to change. He knows he has done wrong."
Sheriff Linda Nicolson said a jail sentence would be "merited", but told the accused:
"It seems from information in the social work report that a community-based disposal would be an appropriate alternative."
Beattie will be under supervision for two years and must attend a programme for sex offenders.
In addition, there are restrictions on his internet use and he must have no contact with children under 16 without the approval of his supervising officer.