CAMPBELL MCAULAY FROM LIFF ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN DUNDEE

In June 2018, Campbell McAulay, an engineer from the rural area of Liff, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of a vast collection of over 7,000 child abuse images. The disturbing discovery was made during an early morning raid on the farm house he shares with his wife, carried out by cyber crime officers responding to a credible tip-off.

During the operation, authorities seized multiple pieces of computing equipment from McAulay’s residence. The investigation revealed that he was employed as an engineer for a science and engineering firm, a detail that was disclosed during the court proceedings. A forensic examination of his devices uncovered a series of disturbing online searches, including phrases such as “pre-teen bikini,” “jailbait,” and “Russian teen nudists,” indicating a pattern of deviant interests.

Further analysis confirmed that McAulay had downloaded a total of 7,330 indecent images of children, with 135 classified at the highest level of depravity. These findings painted a troubling picture of his online activity, which was linked to a user profile named ‘Campbell’ that was protected by a password, making the evidence even more concerning.

When questioned by police, McAulay chose not to comment on the images or his online searches. His defence lawyer, Tim Niven-Smith, argued that McAulay was actively seeking help for his issues, stating that he attended weekly sessions with Sex Addicts Anonymous and that he was battling deviant fantasies. Despite these efforts, the court acknowledged his ongoing struggles but decided against a custodial sentence.

In delivering the verdict, Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC noted that McAulay had made some progress in addressing his offending behaviour. She emphasized that the sheer volume of images—over 7,000—would typically warrant a prison sentence under standard guidelines. However, considering his remorse and steps toward rehabilitation, she opted for a community-based sentence.

Prosecutor Charmaine Gilmartin highlighted that McAulay had made no comment when interviewed by police regarding the images. She detailed that the searches were linked to his user profile, which was password protected, and that the internet history contained numerous indecent search terms.

McAulay, aged 52 and residing at Muirloch Farm in Liff, pleaded guilty to charges of taking or making indecent images of children between November 12, 2014, and June 21, 2016, at his home address. In response, his defence team pointed out that he had undertaken a course with a charity aimed at curbing his offending and was actively attending Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings.

The court imposed a community payback order requiring 300 hours of unpaid work, three years of supervision, and participation in a sex offenders treatment programme. Conditions were also set regarding his internet use and contact with children. Additionally, McAulay was placed on the sex offenders register for three years. The sheriff concluded by acknowledging the seriousness of the offence but justified her decision by noting his efforts to reform and the remorse he expressed, ultimately opting for a community-based sentence over imprisonment.