Tranent man William Levy jailed over child abuse videos
A man who downloaded videos of child sexual abuse and bestiality has been jailed for 18 months.
William Levy, 50, was caught with more than 9,000 "deeply distressing and disturbing" videos and photographs.
Levy admitted taking, or permitting to be taken, and making indecent photographs of children between 31 October 2012 and 25 March 2014.
He also admitted having pornographic images depicting bestiality between 28 March 2011 and 25 March 2014.
Levy, from Tranent, has also been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that the father-of-four was caught out following the "result of intelligence" by police.
Depute fiscal Kirsty Anderson said officers discovered 8,391 photographs ranging from Level 1 to Level 5, and 392 videos from Level 1 to 5.
Gillian Taylor, defending, said her client was being supported by his family and that Levy's partner and children had written "very eloquent" letters to the court in his defence.
Ms Taylor added: "They speak very highly of their father and the whole family remain supportive. They appear to be a very strong family unit.
"It is unfortunate Mr Levy is unable to explain much of the motivation behind his behaviour. He tells me much of his behaviour is a blur."
Sheriff Michael O'Grady QC said: "I cannot fail to regard this as anything other than serious. There are a huge number of images involved in these charges and many of them are deeply distressing, deeply disturbing and deeply upsetting.
"The reality is that unless there are people like you, who are willing to collect these type of images, then there would be no market for them and many children would not have to suffer."