ANDREW FINN FROM HARTLEPOOL AND HAWICK ESCAPES JAIL FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In a case that has drawn significant attention across the North East and Scottish Borders, Andrew Finn, aged 25, formerly residing in Hawick and now living in Galashiels, narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after being found in possession of indecent images of children. The incident unfolded at Teesside Crown Court, where Finn faced charges related to the possession of explicit material involving minors, a revelation that has shocked local communities in Hartlepool, Hawick, and beyond.

Finn's background is intertwined with a troubling family history. His father, Andrew Finn, a former karate instructor, was previously convicted and jailed for sex offences, including voyeurism and assault on a young girl. The elder Finn, aged 52 at the time, was sentenced to six months in December for spying on a girl as she undressed and washed, an act that compounded the distress experienced by his young victim. The younger Finn's involvement in martial arts, which he helped run alongside his father across Teesside, including Hartlepool, has now become overshadowed by these serious allegations.

During the court proceedings, Andrew Finn Jr. admitted to downloading indecent images, claiming that his motivation was driven by curiosity about his father’s behavior and whether he himself might be a paedophile. He explained that he wanted to understand what his father was all about, especially given the notoriety surrounding his family. The court was told that Finn had downloaded a total of 44 images of children, which included various levels of severity, and that he had attempted to divert suspicion onto his father, who was already under investigation for similar offences.

Finn’s defense lawyer, Robert Mochrie, highlighted the emotional turmoil his client was experiencing. He stated that the trauma of his father’s conviction had led Finn into alcohol abuse and that his interest in the images was purely out of morbid curiosity, not sexual gratification. Mochrie emphasized that Finn was not seeking sexual pleasure from the images but was instead driven by a desire to understand his father’s actions and possibly his own inclinations.

Prosecutor Sarah Mallett detailed the police findings, revealing that officers had been called to a residence on Somerset Road in Norton, where they discovered a computer containing a disturbing collection of images and videos. The material included 12 images classified as level one (the lowest severity), seven videos at level three, seven more at level one, and 18 at level four, the most severe category. The videos depicted girls as young as 14 engaging in sexual acts with adult males, a fact that added gravity to the case.

When arrested, Finn attempted to shift blame onto his father, who was at the time under suspicion and later convicted of similar offences. Finn claimed that his father had given him the computer and that his actions were motivated by a desire to ensure his own children would not be exposed to such material online. However, he later admitted that his interest was driven by morbid curiosity and a need to understand his father’s obsession with children.

In sentencing, Judge Les Spittle acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but took into account that there was no evidence Finn had attempted to distribute the images. Finn was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years. Additionally, he received a two-year supervision order, was mandated to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service, and was disqualified from working with children. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed to restrict his access to minors and the internet under specified conditions.

The case also sheds light on the complex and troubling history of the Finn family. Just months prior to Andrew Finn Jr.’s arrest, his father, Andrew Finn Sr., was convicted of assaulting a young girl in the karate club’s changing rooms and spying on her while she washed. The young victim, under 13, was deeply traumatized, suffering nightmares and feeling unsafe in her own home, as recounted by her parents. The elder Finn’s actions had already cast a long shadow over the family, and his son’s subsequent offences have only added to the distress.

Initially, Finn Jr. attempted to blame his father for the possession of the images, claiming that the computer had been given to him by his father, who was then under investigation. He also stated that his actions were motivated by a desire to prevent his own children from accessing similar material online. However, his explanations changed during the course of the investigation, ultimately leading to his conviction. Both father and son are now registered sex offenders, with Finn Jr. required to adhere to strict restrictions and supervision for the next two years, reflecting the serious nature of their offences and the ongoing concern for community safety in Hartlepool, Hawick, and the surrounding areas.