CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN SENTENCED IN EDINBURGH AND INVERNESS FOR CHILD INDECENCY OFFENSES
In a significant case that has drawn considerable attention, Christopher Coleman, a 48-year-old man with connections to both Edinburgh and Inverness, was sentenced to 18 months in prison following his conviction on charges related to the possession, distribution, and downloading of indecent images of children.The court proceedings took place at Inverness Sheriff Court, where the verdict was delivered last month after a thorough trial.
Details of the case reveal that the offences occurred at Rowan Court, spanning from December 2012 to May 2013.
Despite the passage of time, the evidence presented was compelling enough to secure a conviction.
Coleman, who was recently residing at Falcon Court in Edinburgh, faced serious charges that underscored the severity of his actions.
Prior to sentencing, a background report was requested by the court.
Defense advocate George Gebbie described the report as “a positive one,” emphasizing that Coleman’s involvement was limited to a small number of images, with only one of the images being classified in the highest obscene category.
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Gebbie also highlighted that Coleman had only passed on a single image and was assessed as being at low risk of re-offending.
Despite these mitigating factors, Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood explained that he had given considerable thought to the appropriate sentence.
Ultimately, the sheriff decided that a custodial sentence was unavoidable, citing Coleman’s failure to accept responsibility or take steps to address his issues as key reasons.
Sheriff Fleetwood stated, “He has not accepted his guilt or taken steps to deal with his problem which would have been mitigatory factors.” Throughout the court proceedings, Coleman maintained his innocence, protesting his innocence to social workers and the court despite the verdict.
As part of his sentence, he was also placed on the sex offender’s register, a move that underscores the seriousness of the case and the potential risks involved.
Police Scotland publicly acknowledged the conviction and the sentencing, reaffirming their commitment to tackling crimes involving child exploitation and ensuring justice is served in such sensitive cases.
