CAREFUL CAUTION: CARL GOODRAM FROM KIRKWALL ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY

In a case that has drawn significant attention in Kirkwall, 23-year-old Carl Goodram narrowly avoided incarceration after authorities uncovered indecent images of young children on his mobile device. The incident occurred during a routine police check on February 7 of the previous year, while Goodram was already under surveillance due to his prior conviction and his status on the Sex Offenders Register.

During the search, law enforcement officials found a total of eight images depicting children in sexualized contexts. Of these, four were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious nature, while the remaining four fell into Category B. Further investigation revealed that Goodram’s internet browsing history contained search terms such as “kids” and “sex,” raising concerns about his intentions and awareness.

Goodram, who resides at 31 Lynn Crescent in Kirkwall, admitted to having in his possession indecent or pseudo-photos of children between January 23 and February 7. His solicitor, Cheryl Beattie, explained that her client has been on remand since September 13, which effectively amounts to an eight-month detention period. She described Goodram as being somewhat naive and suggested that he might have some limitations in his intellectual capacity.

Ms. Beattie also highlighted that this was Goodram’s first experience outside of the island, describing it as a “massive culture shock” for him. Despite the circumstances, she noted that during his time in custody, he had taken steps to improve himself by obtaining health and safety qualifications and enrolling in additional courses. She emphasized that the images found were few in number and mostly duplicates, implying a limited collection.

It is important to recall that Goodram’s previous conviction involved a consensual act with a 14-year-old girl, which included kissing and inappropriate touching. This history underscores the seriousness of his current case.

In sentencing, Sheriff Mungo Bovey decided to impose a three-year community payback order, rather than jail time. Under this order, Goodram will be supervised by social workers for the duration of three years and will be listed on the Sexual Offenders Register. Additionally, he is required to complete 300 hours of unpaid community service within one year, as part of his rehabilitation and accountability measures.