DANGEROUS CHILD PREDATOR DAVID CAMPBELL CAUGHT IN LAURENCEKIRK WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

A resident of Laurencekirk, David Campbell, has been found in possession of highly disturbing indecent images of children, including a particularly serious Category A video depicting a young girl estimated to be between six and nine years old. The investigation uncovered that Campbell not only possessed these illicit images but also had a screensaver on his phone featuring an indecent image of a young girl, further highlighting his disturbing interests.

Campbell’s criminal activities came to light despite his prior monitoring by the sex offender policing unit. He was subject to a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), which explicitly prohibited him from downloading or using any software that could conceal his online activity. However, during a visit to his home in September 2021, officers discovered that Campbell had deliberately downloaded Tor browsers, a tool commonly used to maintain anonymity on the internet, thereby breaching the conditions of his SOPO.

Following this breach, a comprehensive digital forensic examination was conducted on Campbell’s devices. The investigation revealed multiple indecent images of children, predominantly involving girls aged between five and nine years old. These images depicted the children in various compromising and exploitative scenarios, underscoring the severity of Campbell’s offenses.

During police interviews, Campbell admitted to both taking and possessing the images, as well as allowing others to take similar photographs, between June and September 2021. He also acknowledged that he had violated the terms of his SOPO by downloading the Tor browser, which was intended to prevent authorities from tracking his online activities.

In court, Campbell faced serious charges related to the possession and distribution of child exploitation material. The judge ordered that he be detained at Royal Cornhill Hospital for a period of six months to undergo mental health treatment. The court cited that Campbell suffers from schizophrenia, which contributed to his actions. Following this inpatient treatment, a mental health tribunal will assess his condition and determine further steps.

Furthermore, Campbell was subjected to indefinite notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act, meaning he will be monitored and required to register his details with authorities for an indefinite period, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.