ALEXANDER HEEPS SHIELDHILL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE SHOCKS SCOTLAND

In January 2018, a serious case involving Alexander Heeps, a resident of Shieldhill, came to light at Falkirk Sheriff Court. The 68-year-old man was found to have accumulated a significant collection of indecent images and videos depicting children on his electronic devices. Despite the gravity of his actions, a combination of his age, health issues, and the nature of the images prevented a harsher sentence, though the court made it clear that future offenses would not be tolerated.

Heeps was charged with possessing these illicit materials at his home located at 17 Belmont Avenue, Shieldhill, during a period spanning from April 5, 2013, to April 24, 2014. The court proceedings revealed that the images stored on his devices included a large number of indecent photographs, although only a small fraction fell into the most severe category involving the abuse of very young children.

During the hearing, Sheriff Craig Caldwell addressed the court and emphasized the seriousness of the offense. He stated, “You have placed yourself at very grave risk of being deprived of your liberty. This is the second time you have been convicted of these types of offences in the past seven years.” The sheriff pointed out that Heeps’s previous convictions underscored the ongoing nature of his criminal behavior.

Sheriff Caldwell further explained that two primary factors influenced the decision not to impose immediate imprisonment. The first was Heeps’s advanced age, coupled with his health problems and infirmity, which the court considered as mitigating circumstances. The second was the content of the images, which, while numerous, did not predominantly include the most severe forms of child abuse. The sheriff warned that had the images been more extreme, the outcome would have been different, and Heeps would have faced jail time.

Despite the leniency, the court made it clear that any future offenses would result in a custodial sentence. Heeps was sentenced to a three-year supervised community payback order, which would involve strict oversight by the police protection unit. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years and was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.

Sheriff Caldwell also outlined specific conditions that Heeps must adhere to during his supervision. These included restrictions on his internet access, which would be limited to a single device provided upon request by police or social workers. Furthermore, Heeps was barred from entering areas where children are likely to gather, such as school playgrounds, parks, and recreation centers. The court’s decision aimed to prevent any further harm and to monitor Heeps’s compliance closely, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing threat posed by such crimes.