ANDREW BRENNER FROM CULLODEN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE INVERNESS

In a case that has shocked the community of Culloden, Andrew Bremner, a 50-year-old resident of Ferntower Place, was found guilty of downloading and possessing indecent images of children. Despite the serious nature of the charges, Bremner was spared a custodial sentence after a hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court. Instead, Sheriff David Sutherland ordered Bremner to complete 250 hours of community service and imposed a ban on unsupervised access to computers, with the exception of internet banking activities.

The case had been deferred initially to allow for background reports and an assessment for the Joint Sex Offenders Project, reflecting the court’s cautious approach given the gravity of the allegations. Sheriff Sutherland acknowledged that while the charges were serious, they were at the lower end of the spectrum, and the contents of the reports persuaded him that a community-based sentence would serve the best interests of both the defendant and the wider community.

Bremner had previously admitted to offenses committed between April 26, 2010, and June 11, 2010, which involved causing or permitting the creation of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. He also admitted to possessing such images between April 26, 2010, and December 18, 2010. The court was informed that a total of 35 images had been downloaded onto his computer during this period.

During a police investigation, authorities received information indicating Bremner’s possession of child pornography. A search warrant was executed at his residence, specifically targeting a bedroom that had been converted into a study. Officers seized computers and retrieved a disturbing collection of images and videos. Among the 35 images recovered, 22 were classified as level one, indicating less severe content, while two were classified as level five, which is considered the most serious category. The seized video clip depicted a six-year-old girl performing a sexual act, with a duration of 2 minutes and 13 seconds.

Legal representatives for Bremner, including his solicitor Eilidh Macdonald, argued that the defendant had suffered significant personal consequences as a result of the case. She stated that Bremner had lost his job and was now in the process of selling his house. Macdonald emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest that Bremner had distributed the images, asserting that the number of images was relatively small. She urged the court to consider rehabilitation over imprisonment, highlighting that Bremner was a first-time offender who acknowledged his wrongdoing.

In addition to the community service order, Sheriff Sutherland also placed Bremner on a three-year community payback order. Bremner has previously been registered on the Sex Offenders Register, reflecting the ongoing concern about his case. The court’s decision underscores the importance of balancing justice with the potential for rehabilitation in cases involving child exploitation images.

Earlier in March 2013, Bremner had admitted to downloading indecent images of children, some as young as six, between April and October 2010. Police had acted on information received in December 2010, which led to the seizure of his computers. During police interviews, Bremner admitted responsibility for the images but claimed he had not paid for or exchanged them. Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood deferred sentencing until April 8, 2013, pending a background report and risk assessment, and ordered Bremner to remain on the sex offenders register during this period.