CLIVE BOUD FROM INNERLEITHEN AND NEWCASTLETON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN JEDBURGH

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local communities of Innerleithen and Newcastleton, Clive Boud, a 55-year-old man, was found guilty of possessing a significant collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after police executed a search warrant at his residence in Buchan Place, Innerleithen, revealing a disturbing cache of digital material.

According to court records presented at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, Boud had accumulated a total of 2,721 still images and 145 videos depicting child abuse. The investigation uncovered that these illicit files had been stored over an 18-month period leading up to June 2015. Among the images, 281 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse, with some images showing children in extreme distressing situations.

Clive Boud admitted to the charges, acknowledging that the illegal material was stored on his computer at his home in Innerleithen. The court was informed that the offense was committed over a lengthy period, highlighting a pattern of possession rather than production of the images. The severity of the content was underscored by the fact that some images depicted children in highly distressing circumstances, which added to the gravity of the case.

During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff Derrick McIntyre addressed the court, emphasizing that while possession of such images is considered less serious than creating or distributing them, it remains a grave offense. The sheriff stated, “Possession of these images is a less serious offence to making them. Nonetheless, it is a serious offence. Each image represents a child being abused. The content of some of these images was extreme and the children distressed.”

In line with the recommendations from a social work report, Sheriff McIntyre opted for a community-based disposal with supervision rather than immediate imprisonment. The sheriff noted Boud’s vulnerability, describing him as socially isolated, rarely leaving his accommodation, and suffering from serious health issues. These factors contributed to the decision to impose a community order instead of custodial sentence, with the understanding that a breach of conditions could result in jail time.

As part of the sentence, Boud was placed under a three-year community payback order with strict conditions. He is prohibited from accessing the internet without prior approval from his supervising officer, and any internet-enabled device he owns must be available for inspection by social workers and police. Furthermore, he is not permitted to have contact with any child under the age of 17 without explicit approval from his supervising officer. Sheriff McIntyre warned Boud that any breach of these conditions would lead to imprisonment, stating, “This is a direct alternative to custody which is where you will be going in the event of a breach of these conditions.”

Additionally, Boud has been registered as a sex offender for a period of three years, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk posed to the community. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat child exploitation in the Scottish Borders and beyond.