AIRDIRE MAN BARRY STEVENSON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND INAPPROPRIATE ONLINE BEHAVIOR IN AIRDRIE

Barry Stevenson, a 28-year-old resident of Airdrie, has been handed a significant prison sentence following his conviction for serious offenses related to child exploitation and online misconduct. The case was heard at Airdrie Sheriff Court, where Stevenson was sentenced to 15 months behind bars for his involvement in downloading and sharing indecent images of children.

In addition to his imprisonment, Stevenson was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. Upon his release, he will be subject to a two-year period of supervision, during which authorities will monitor his activities and ensure compliance with the court’s orders. Stevenson, who had no prior criminal record before these incidents, admitted to the charges, which included downloading explicit images of minors at his residence on Whinhall Avenue in Airdrie. The offenses took place over a span from November 2022 through January 2024.

Further disturbing details emerged during the proceedings, revealing that Stevenson also engaged in a disturbing online exchange with an undercover police officer. The officer, posing as a 13-year-old girl, was targeted by Stevenson, who admitted to sending a nude photograph of himself to the decoy and requesting explicit images in return. This explicit exchange occurred last May, while Stevenson was already on bail for previous charges related to child abuse images.

Despite the evidence, Stevenson maintained during court that he had nothing to hide and claimed he had not actively searched for such material. However, investigators presented evidence indicating that indecent images were found on two of his mobile phones. Prosecutor Annette Ward outlined that Stevenson initiated a conversation on Snapchat with the officer, believing her to be 13 years old. During this interaction, he discussed 'naughty' pictures and claimed to have sent similar images to many others, asserting that he had never shared such images with anyone over 19 unless asked. He also told the decoy that 'no one would find out' if she sent him a picture, and subsequently sent a nude image of himself.

Stevenson’s online behavior also included making plans to meet the decoy in person. He expressed a willingness to travel to Leicester to meet her, even asking her to skip school for a day to hang out, describing her as 'too cute.' The pair continued their conversations over several days before police intervened and re-arrested Stevenson.

During the court hearing, his defense lawyer acknowledged Stevenson’s sexual interest in children but argued that a community-based sentence under court supervision might aid in his rehabilitation. Nonetheless, Sheriff Derek Livingston concluded that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate punishment, especially considering Stevenson’s actions after being released on bail, which demonstrated a continued risk.

It was also noted that Stevenson’s partner, who is pregnant and supportive, remains with him despite the serious nature of these offenses. The court took her support into account when determining the severity of Stevenson’s sentence, ultimately deciding that imprisonment was necessary to protect the public and uphold justice.