ALLAN MARSH SHOCKING CHILD AND ANIMAL ABUSE CASE IN RENFREW AND PAISLEY

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Paisley and Renfrew, Allan Marsh, a 50-year-old man, was found guilty of possessing and downloading a horrifying collection of child and animal abuse videos. The case, which was heard at Paisley Sheriff Court, revealed the extent of Marsh’s involvement in these heinous acts, and the court’s proceedings shed light on the serious nature of his crimes.

Marsh was arrested on January 29 of the previous year after police officers visited his residence on Arthur Street in Paisley, following credible information that he had accessed and stored indecent images and videos. The authorities seized his Samsung phone, which contained graphic footage of young girls as young as three being sexually abused, as well as a disturbing video depicting a dog being sexually violated shortly after giving birth. The police investigation uncovered that Marsh had been downloading and possessing these images over a period of five years, a revelation that deeply shocked the court and the public alike.

During the trial, Marsh attempted to deny responsibility, claiming that his phone had been hacked and that he was not sexually attracted to children. He insisted that the files must have been placed on his device by malicious hackers, asserting that he had not viewed or known about the content. However, the jury was not convinced by his claims, and Marsh was found unanimously guilty of the charges of downloading and possessing indecent images of children and animals.

In a recorded police interview played during the court proceedings, Marsh stated that he was not attracted to children and preferred women in their 50s. He also expressed disgust at the content found on his phone, describing it as “disgusting” and “sick,” and claimed he would defend his own daughter if she were ever abused. Despite his assertions, the evidence against him was overwhelming, and the court’s findings confirmed his guilt.

Detective Constable Robert Urquhart, aged 39, provided details of the police search of Marsh’s home, which took place around 9 am on January 29. During the search, officers seized Marsh’s phone and discovered the graphic images and videos. The court heard descriptions of the disturbing footage, including a video of a dog chained to a wall, visibly frightened, and being violently hurt by a man. The dog appeared to have recently given birth, with swollen teats and pups entering the scene, as the man repeatedly inflicted harm on the animal.

Marsh’s defence lawyer, Chris McKenna, argued that his client had been the target of community hostility and vindictive ex-partners following the revelations. He stated that Marsh planned to relocate to Leeds for a fresh start, hoping to escape the backlash. McKenna emphasized that the number of images was relatively low compared to other cases and assured the court that Marsh’s risk of re-offending would be carefully managed through supervision.

Judge Sheriff David Pender acknowledged the seriousness of the case but noted that sentencing guidelines limited his options. He expressed concern that the low number of images did not fully reflect the gravity of the crimes but ultimately decided on a sentence of three years of supervised probation. Marsh was also ordered to attend the “Moving Forward, Making Changes” programme or any other directed by his supervising officer, and he was banned from having any unsupervised contact with children under 18.

Additional restrictions included placing Marsh on the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years, monitoring his internet usage strictly, and requiring him to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. His internet access was limited to approved devices incapable of storing or deleting images or search histories. Marsh is scheduled to appear in court again on July 25 for a review of his conduct, as authorities continue to monitor his compliance with the court’s orders.