A Cumbernauld, Scotland woman, Helen Hughes, has been remanded in custody at the Airdrie Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to having hundreds of child sexual abuse videos and thousands of such images on her phone, as well as distributing them.
The 43-year-old Ms Hughes of Kilbowie Road admitted downloading the indecent materials between July 2024 and December 2025, and sharing them with other paedophiles, Glasgow Times reported on Thursday.
The woman, who also admitted sending messages encouraging the sexual abuse and rape of babies and children, was seen in court, weeping as she was led to the cell.
According to the prosecuting counsel, Steven Lynch, the police searched her home and seized a mobile phone and a tablet for analysis by specialist officers.
After analysing the devices, the officers found 8,283 photographs showing children being sexually abused, with over 1,000 of those images rated Category A, the most depraved. They also found 840 videos, 633 of which were in Category A.
Mr Lynch told the court that, “Analysis of the devices showed the accused engaged with others in conversations discussing and encouraging the sexual abuse of children and infants. She distributed 27 Category A videos and 1 Category B video to other users on social media apps. Most were sent to a user named Filthy One.”
Sheriff Paul Haran said, “You have pleaded guilty to serious offences involving not only possession but distribution of child sexual abuse material. The matter is sufficiently serious that the likely outcome is a custodial sentence, so you will be remanded in custody in the meantime.”
The sheriff thereafter ordered that the defendant, who was on bail before the court hearing, be kept in custody while background reports are prepared ahead of her sentencing.
The sheriff placed her name on the sex offenders’ register, and also ordered the destruction of her phone and tablet.