A SEX offender found with indecent images of children as young as four on a 'custom-built' computer has 'brought shame upon his family', Greenock Sheriff Court has heard.

Andrew Fabiani was caught with six sexually explicit photos of underage youngsters on a PC after police turned up at his former home in Port Glasgow with a search warrant. 

Fabiani, 43, was spared prison at a sentencing hearing after previously pleading guilty to possessing the lewd photographs.

The convicted pervert also breached bail by repeatedly failing to report to Greenock police office on specified days following his arrest and initial appearance in court.

Fabiani appeared from custody in the dock of the sheriff court having been remanded to prison over the bail breaches in February.

His solicitor told the court: "From the outset, he has been deeply ashamed, embarrassed and remorseful for his actions.

"When I initially saw him in relation to these matters it is safe to say that his life had fallen apart.

"He has brought shame upon himself and his family."

READ MORE: 'Disgusted' Port Glasgow sex offender locked up on indecent child images charge

Procurator fiscal depute Flora Napier told the hearing that police received information that indecent images of children were being uploaded via a device at Fabiani's Port home.

Officers swooped on the address at dawn on October 22 last year and seized a 'custom-built PC', which was later analysed by Police Scotland's cybercrime team.

Fiscal depute Ms Napier said: "Six images were recovered, none of which would have been accessible without specialist knowledge."

One image was in the most severe category, while four were classed as category B and another was category C.

Ms Napier gave details of the content of the images - too obscene to print - and said that they involved male and female children as young as four-years-old.

Fabiani's lawyer said that the convicted sex offender has served the equivalent of a 16-month sentence in prison having been remanded since February 10.

READ MORE: Trial date set for woman accused of ill-treating 'cocaine ingestion' tot

The solicitor added: "In cases such as this, the number of images is not ordinarily high.

"He was extremely reluctant to consent to a community-based disposal; he has very real fears over his safety in the community."

Sheriff Neil Kinnear told Fabiani that the 'very serious' offence is not without consequences for the safety of children.

The sheriff said: "At least I am heartened to read that you do appear to recognise that you have done something very wrong and you accept responsibility for that, and that is to your credit."

Sheriff Kinnear noted the 'relatively small number of images' but said 'one of these is category A, the most serious'.

He said: "I am persuaded that an alternative to custody is appropriate, as short sentences do little to address offending behaviour."

Fabiani, now of no fixed abode, was placed on the sex offenders register for two years and he will also be supervised by the criminal justice social work department for the same period of time.

He was also given an eight-month jail term backdated to February 10 - effectively meaning he has already completed the custodial sentence.