GREENOCK PAEDOPHILE CRAIG JOHNSTONE SENTENCED FOR NEARLY 50,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Greenock, Craig Johnstone, aged 37, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing an enormous collection of indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that Johnstone had accumulated a staggering total of 46,328 such images, including highly disturbing videos depicting the sexual abuse of young girls. These materials were found on his personal devices, specifically his laptop and two mobile phone SIM cards, which he kept in his one-bedroom flat on Dempster Street.

Authorities acted on intelligence that linked Johnstone’s IP address to the downloading of child exploitation material. During a police raid on March 12, officers gained entry to his residence at approximately 8:40 a.m. and discovered him alone inside. The suspect, who was described as a loner and a former resident of the flat, reportedly told officers, “What you are looking for is all in there,” referring to a silver Toshiba laptop. The police seized the device along with the SIM cards, which contained additional indecent images.

Analysis of the seized devices confirmed the presence of an extensive collection of illegal material. Forensic experts identified 46,195 indecent images on the laptop alone, including three classified as Category A and seven as Category B, which are considered the most severe classifications. The hard drive also contained 71 images and videos, with 67 of these being accessible to the public. On the SIM cards, investigators found 133 Category C images, with 25 readily accessible. Overall, the total number of accessible images across all devices was 44,075, highlighting the scale of the offense.

During the court proceedings at Greenock Sheriff Court, Johnstone pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, covering the period from July 1, 2019, to March 12, 2020. Prosecutor Claire Rowan emphasized the gravity of the case, noting that the images involved real children who had been victims of abuse. Sheriff Andrew McIntyre described the case as gravely concerning, especially given the high number of images and the presence of Category A material, which indicates the most severe abuse.

In his sentencing remarks, Sheriff McIntyre stated, “Only a prison sentence can be selected in a case such as this,” and subsequently sentenced Johnstone to 18 months in prison. Additionally, he ordered that Johnstone be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of ten years. The sheriff also refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offense and the risk posed by the large volume of illegal material. A background report was ordered, and the case was adjourned until January 5 for further proceedings.

Johnstone’s solicitor acknowledged the severity of the matter, emphasizing that his client’s family still supported him and suggesting that this support could serve as a protective factor for society after his release. The solicitor also pointed out that Johnstone had been living with his parents, who were reportedly shocked by his involvement in such criminal activity. Despite this, the court made it clear that the nature and scale of the offense warranted a custodial sentence, reflecting the grave concern surrounding the case and the protection of children from exploitation.