Police who raided a former soldier’s home after a tip-off about child abuse images were stunned to find munitions in his bedroom.
Two green cylinders, with ‘bomb’ and ‘explosives’ written on them, were found on the floor of Christopher Moore’s house in a quiet Highland Perthshire town.
That led to the bomb squad being called in, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
Officers made the alarming discoveries after Moore told them he was ex-military and then volunteered: “I need to show you something that I’m probably going to get the jail for.”
The 37-year-old went to the bedroom of his flat at Chapel Court, Aberfeldy, and produced a paint tub which was beside a wardrobe, depute fiscal Michael Sweeney told the court.
He said it contained live ammunition but described the contents as “merely trophies”.
Police got in touch with Explosive Ordnance Control and they went to the property about 8.30pm that evening to examine the items and X-rayed ammunition and mortars to “establish if they were empty or live.”
A 51mm mortar drill round and a 51mm mortar casing were both found to be empty, while 38 of the bullets did not pose any threat.
There were, however, 16x5.56 “live link bullets”.
Police also recovered 23 still images of children, six designated as category A, the most serious, seven category B and 10 category C.
Sheriff Gillian Wade questioned why the accused had been prosecuted at indictment level, given the small number of images, when he appeared for sentence on Wednesday.
After hearing he was already seeking help from ‘Stop It Now!’ - a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse - she deferred sentence until December 13.
A first offender, his name has been added to the Sex Offenders’ Register and the ammunition was forfeited.
Moore admitted downloading the images at his then Aberfeldy home between September 26, 2012, and July 27, 2020, and also being in possession of the link bullets on July 27 while not the holder of a firearms certificate.
The house did not require to be evacuated but bomb squad personnel warned that “no-one should be within the room with the explosives,” added the fiscal.
Defence lawyer David Holmes said his client had been “very frank” during his interview with social workers who prepared a background report and also an assessment for the Tay Project which aims to rehabilitate sex offenders.
Previously described as a miner, he had to give up that job when the court matters came to light and was now working in deliveries.
“From the very moment he was in the police station, he was anxious to bring things to a conclusion,” Mr Holmes said.
Sheriff Wade will assess his progress on the charity scheme in six months’ time.
Moore, of Claremont Gardens, Aberdeen, had his bail continued meantime.
