CAMERON ANDERSON, NORTH-EAST PAEDOPHILE, REARRESTED IN ABERDEEN

In November 2018, Cameron Anderson, a North-east sex offender, was returned to custody after police discovered images of child sexual abuse on his mobile phone, which he was prohibited from possessing. Anderson, now 34, had been placed on the sex offenders register following a 2008 incident involving sexually explicit conversations with a schoolgirl via instant messaging. The next year, he was again in trouble for exploiting an 11-year-old boy online by persuading him to expose himself. Despite these offences, he was banned from owning a mobile device or computer.

His criminal history culminated in a 2014 conviction when he was sentenced to five years in prison for acts involving boys under 16, including possessing 996 indecent images and 738 videos of children. After his release, police spotted him in Inverurie on June 23, 2018, where he claimed he was heading to report a new bank account. During his police interview, officers noticed headphones, which on closer inspection were attached to a mobile phone. He was subsequently arrested, and a search of his home in Kintore revealed an Amazon Firestick—another device he was prohibited from owning—and indecent images of children on his phone. Anderson stated he had possessed the phone for six months and the Firestick for four.

Facing charges at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Anderson admitted to the offences. Prosecutor Jamie Dunbar reported that authorities found 15 indecent images on his device, including seven of the most serious Category A. Anderson’s defense agent, Peter Shepherd, explained that his client was back in prison serving an unserved part of his previous sentence and could not be released before March 2022. Anderson was noted to have cooperated fully with police during the investigation. Sheriff Jack Brown sentenced him to one year in jail and a ten-year registration on the sex offenders register.

Earlier in 2014, Anderson, then 30, had received a five-year prison term and an additional three-year extended sentence, which means he remains under supervision and in compliance with strict conditions upon release. Court documents revealed he operated fake social media accounts pretending to be a teenage boy and girl, which gave him feelings of power and sexual gratification. During that case, he was found with nearly 1,000 indecent images and more than 700 videos, and he had previously been subject to a sexual offences prevention order issued in 2009 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court. That order banned him from contacting children or accessing the internet following his earlier attempts to exploit an 11-year-old online.

He admitted several breaches of this order, including possession of a mobile phone and computer, and establishing contact with children under 16 online. Court evidence showed he asked boys under the age of 16 sexual questions and manipulated two of them into engaging in sexual activities over the internet. Defense lawyer Peter Shepherd stated Anderson was willing to undergo counseling while detained. Sheriff Graeme Napier emphasized the gravity of Anderson’s manipulation, stating, “You manipulated young children for your own sexual needs.”

In May 2014, Anderson’s case was considered for referral to the High Court due to the danger he posed. He was scheduled for sentencing but the case was deferred pending psychiatric evaluation. At that time, he was again under a sexual offences prevention order, forbidding him from any contact with minors and internet access. His recent admissions covered offences from late 2012 to early 2014, including breaching the order by possessing devices, contacting children online, and engaging in sexual communications. He also caused two minors to perform sex acts over webcams. Sheriff Napier warned Anderson’s risk level might warrant an extended, even high court, sentence and ordered his continued detention at his Banchory address, with a court date set for the following month.

Back in October 2008, Anderson, then 24, avoided jail after admitting to posing as a juvenile online to solicit schoolboys for sexual acts. He contacted boys on a website with inappropriate messages. Sheriff Annella Cowan sentenced him to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and inclusion on the sex offenders register for three years. The schoolboys reported feeling alarmed by his lewd suggestions, which they could not fully comprehend at the time. Anderson was apprehended following investigations by a child exploitation monitoring team. Sheriff Cowan noted that a custodial sentence might not have been effective, given his prior convictions, and praised the online monitoring efforts for protecting children.