A PERVERT viewed more than 1,700 child pornography videos and photos on a computer at his flat in Port Glasgow.

Thomas Bellew pored over scores of Category A material — images of the worst sexual abuse of children — during a period spanning six years.

The 42-year-old was caught in an early morning police raid after cyber-crime officers were alerted to his online activities.

Victims of the abuse that he viewed were aged as young as seven.

Bellew sat stony-faced in the dock of Greenock Sheriff Court as the grotesque details of his crimes were narrated.

Prosecutor John Penman told how the paedophile had downloaded a total of 1,741 indecent images of children between March 2012 and May last year.

The fiscal depute said: "Police had received information that indecent images available for sharing were on a device within a flat in Port Glasgow.

"A search warrant was obtained and at 8.50am on May 29 police officers attended the dwelling, where the accused was alone.

"A systematic search was carried out and various devices were seized, including a Samsung laptop computer.

"Two Category A indecent moving images of children were found and the device was removed for a full examination."

The court heard that computer forensics examiners at Police Scotland's cybercrime unit in Glasgow unearthed a further 1,739 revolting videos and still pictures.

There were 50 Category A movies and 13 such photographs among the haul of depravity discovered on the device.

Mr Penman said: "The accused was informed that he was being detained and he did not reply.

"He was conveyed to Greenock police office, where he was interviewed and it was a 'no comment' interview.

"He was arrested, cautioned and charged and made no reply."

Bellew had 40 Category B videos and photos and 1,638 Category C images.

He pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of taking or permitting to be taken or making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children.

The precise detail of the material — which had to be narrated in court — is too disturbing to publish.

Prosecutor Mr Penman said: "The images were of both males and females, aged between seven and 15, from internet websites."

Defence lawyer David Tod reserved his plea in mitigation on behalf of Bellew, a first offender, until a sentencing hearing next month.

Mr Tod said: "This is a case where (background) reports would be a distinct advantage."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton asked: "There is no exception taken to anything in the Crown narrative?"

Mr Tod replied: "No."

Sheriff Hamilton deferred sentence for reports until May 22.