URQUHART STREET PASTOR BARRY PATERSON CAUGHT WITH OVER 100 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN MORAY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Barry Paterson, a 51-year-old street pastor from Scotland, was found in possession of a large collection of illicit images depicting child abuse and rape. The investigation revealed that Paterson had stored more than 130 such images, including one video, across multiple devices over a span of 11 years. These devices included two laptops and a computer hard drive, which were seized during a police raid at his former residence in Urquhart, Moray, in May of the previous year.

During the court proceedings at Elgin Sheriff Court, prosecutor Rowena Carlton detailed the findings of the police examination. She stated that the devices were thoroughly analyzed by experts, who confirmed that Paterson was the user of all the devices in question. The images discovered were particularly disturbing, with 23 classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse. The majority of the photographs depicted young girls aged between six and 15 years old, with some images being especially graphic and disturbing. Additionally, authorities found a video lasting over three minutes, which further compounded the severity of the case.

Paterson, who now resides in Aberdeen, admitted to the charges of taking or making these illicit images. The court heard that the material was amassed over a period of more than a decade, highlighting a long-standing pattern of offending. Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov ordered that Paterson be placed on the sex offenders register, a measure that will remain in effect until his sentencing scheduled for next month.

It is noteworthy that Barry Paterson was known locally for his involvement in community activities. He used to walk the streets of Elgin as part of a church group, distributing flip-flops and lollipops to revelers who encountered difficulties during nights out. This stark contrast between his public persona and his criminal conduct has left many in the community shocked and appalled by the revelations.