DAVID BRUCE SENTENCED IN LERWICK FOR REPEATED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES INVOLVING SHETLAND CHILDREN

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Lerwick, Shetland, 61-year-old David Bruce has been handed a 16-month prison sentence after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of young children, including babies, in highly disturbing circumstances.

Bruce appeared via video-link from Grampian Prison at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he admitted to the charges against him. The case revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior, as Bruce had previously served time for downloading nearly 50,000 images, some depicting sadistic abuse of infants and toddlers.

The latest incident occurred shortly after Bruce’s release from prison, having been out for less than three months when authorities conducted a surprise visit to his residence in Norgaet, Lerwick, on October 18th of the previous year. The visit was carried out by members of the sex offender policing unit, who had been monitoring his activities.

According to prosecutor Duncan MacKenzie, officers noticed Bruce acting nervously as he led them into his flat, quickly shutting his bedroom door. His apparent unease raised suspicion, prompting officers to request access to his phone for examination. When Bruce entered his bedroom to retrieve his device, he appeared visibly anxious.

During the search, a video was playing on his phone, which disappeared when handed over to an officer. When questioned about the content, Bruce’s nervousness increased, and he struggled to provide a clear answer. An officer attempted to view the video but was unable to do so, as several tabs on the device indicated that Bruce had been viewing pornography.

When asked about the nature of the material, Bruce responded vaguely, saying he was interested in “families and stuff like that,” and when pressed further about whether he was interested in adults or children, he admitted he wanted to “look at all of them.”

Further forensic analysis of his phone uncovered search terms such as “naked little girls’ bums,” and the device was seized for detailed cybercrime investigation. The analysis revealed 127 accessible indecent images and 92 inaccessible ones, all classified as Category C, the least severe category but still highly concerning.

The images included photographs of babies and toddlers, some as young as 18 months, in various compromising situations such as using potties and bathing. Sheriff Ian Cruickshank noted that the images depicted children in various states of undress, with some appearing partially clothed, and all involved minors in situations that were clearly exploitative.

Bruce’s defense lawyer, Tommy Allan, acknowledged the limited scope of his client’s defense. He described Bruce as a “bit of a loner,” primarily caring for his elderly mother, and admitted that Bruce sometimes found it difficult to resist the temptation to explore such material late at night. Allan emphasized that Bruce was aware of the potential consequences of his actions.

While acknowledging that a custodial sentence was likely, Allan urged the court to consider the timing of Bruce’s guilty plea and the impact a further jail term would have on his mother. Sheriff Cruickshank stated that although the category of images might not typically warrant a custodial sentence, Bruce’s previous conviction and recent release from prison left no alternative but to impose a custodial term.

As part of his sentence, Bruce will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements for the next ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Looking back at Bruce’s criminal history, it is evident that his offending has been persistent. In July 2018, he was sentenced to four years in prison for downloading nearly 50,000 images of children, many with sadistic content. During that case, police found extensive collections of images and videos, some of the most severe category, involving young children and infants in sexually abusive scenarios.

Bruce, then 57, resided with his 90-year-old mother at Voderview in Lerwick. His collection spanned nearly a decade, from August 2008 to October 2017, and included over 48,900 images and 56 videos, meticulously organized into categories. The court heard that some of these images depicted the most extreme forms of abuse, including sadistic acts against very young children.

His defense at that time described him as remorseful and ashamed, though the sheriff emphasized that his actions contributed to creating a market for child sexual exploitation. Sheriff Cruickshank sentenced him to 28 months in prison, with an extension period of 20 months on license, and ordered the forfeiture of his equipment. Bruce was also placed under indefinite sex offender notification requirements.

In June 2018, police had also uncovered tens of thousands of indecent images stored on Bruce’s devices, with some of the most extreme images involving children as young as infants. The police found nearly 50,000 images across multiple laptops, mobile phones, and memory cards, with over 1,000 of the images classified as the most severe category. The investigation revealed that Bruce had developed significant expertise in sourcing and downloading such material over many years, although there was no evidence he had shared these images with others.

Sentencing was deferred until July 4th to allow for a comprehensive social work report, and Bruce was placed on the sex offenders’ register, reflecting the seriousness of his ongoing risk to the community.