Scottish paedophile facing extradition to Canada

A Scottish paedophile caught with nearly 25,000 child sexual abuse images and videos at his home is facing live extradition proceedings over alleged similar offences in Canada, a court has been told.

David Howarth, 62, pled guilty to downloading the material after police, acting on information received, raided his flat overlooking Falkirk’s Callendar Park, in January.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard he handed over two USB sticks and a laptop, for which he provided the PIN.

He told officers: “I don’t know why I do it. It’s an addiction.”

The court heard he advised the officers, who arrested him, that he was under investigation in Canada “in relation to alleged sexual offending involving children”.

The court was told he is awaiting trial in Canada in respect of possession of indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Duncan MacKenzie said Howarth had 24,585 downloaded child sexual abuse files at his Falkirk flat. More than 800 still images and 34 videos were of the most serious category.

Mr MacKenzie, the depute fiscal, said: “Specific indicative searches for particular female children and particular conduct on the accused’s part were extensive.”

The court was told that the extradition proceedings that Howarth is facing are due to take place in Edinburgh on November 9.

Solicitor-advocate Martin Morrow, defending, said Howarth had co-operated with the police, and “by a substantial margin” most of his child porn was of the lowest category – Category C.

Mr Morrow said: “Clearly there are complicated issues in this case.”

Sheriff Euan Gosney bailed Howarth for reports until October 29.