BARRY HEWITT OF MILTON INDICTED FOR DISTRIBUTING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN INVERNESS AND EASTER ROSS

In a serious case heard at Inverness Sheriff Court, Barry Hewitt, a 28-year-old resident of Old Mill Road in Milton, faced charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The offences were committed at his residence between December 2014 and April 2015, and Hewitt admitted to both charges during the court proceedings.

The case was brought to light after North Wales Police received intelligence indicating that Hewitt had engaged in indecent communication with another individual. Acting on this information, authorities obtained a search warrant for Hewitt’s home in Milton. During the search, law enforcement officials recovered a desktop computer tower, which was subsequently subjected to detailed analysis.

The forensic examination revealed a disturbing collection of digital material: a total of 4,888 indecent images of children and 200 videos depicting similar content. The police report indicated that the majority of these images and videos were at the lower end of depravity, but alarmingly, 270 images and 91 videos were classified as being at the highest level of severity. It was also revealed that Hewitt had used a file-sharing service, specifically Dropbox, to distribute these illicit materials to others.

During the court hearing, the prosecution, represented by Fiscal depute Michelle Molley, outlined the details of the investigation and the extent of the material found. She emphasized the serious nature of the offences and the potential harm caused by such activities.

Hewitt’s defence solicitor, Neil Wilson, requested that bail be continued, asserting that his client was aware of the likely outcome of the case. However, Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood responded firmly, stating, “Given the length of time this behaviour went on, the number of images and videos involved, and the fact that they were distributed, bail will be revoked and you will be remanded in custody.”

As a result, Hewitt was remanded in custody pending further proceedings. The court deferred sentencing until March 17, pending the preparation of a background report to inform the final judgment in this serious case.