DAVID CROSBIE FROM DALBEATTIE SENTENCED TO 27 MONTHS FOR POSSESSING 57,000 INDECENT IMAGES

In August 2018, a man from Dalbeattie was sentenced to a prison term of 27 months after being found in possession of an alarming number of indecent images. David Crosbie, aged 63, was discovered to have accumulated a total of 57,000 illicit images, which included highly disturbing content involving children and animals.

Following his arrest, Crosbie was also mandated to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. This decision was made after he admitted to possessing the images, some of which depicted children being subjected to sexual acts against their will. Crosbie’s residence on Barrhill Road in Dalbeattie was the location where the illegal material was stored.

The court proceedings revealed that Crosbie pleaded guilty to the charges of possessing indecent images at his home, with the offenses spanning from March 2006 to June of the previous year. Authorities uncovered a significant collection, including over 55,000 still photographs and more than 1,700 video clips, some of which contained extreme content involving both humans and animals.

According to the evidence presented, police had received intelligence indicating that images of children had been downloaded onto specific online addresses. An investigation led to the discovery of the extensive collection at Crosbie’s residence. The Dumfries Sheriff Court heard that the images were categorized across various levels of severity, with a solicitor representing Crosbie emphasizing that he had no prior criminal record. The defense also pointed out that many of the images were classified within the lowest category of indecency, although this did not mitigate the seriousness of the offense.

Ultimately, the court sentenced Crosbie to 27 months in prison, underscoring the gravity of possessing such a vast collection of illegal and disturbing material. The decision also included the imposition of a ten-year sex offender registration requirement, reflecting the ongoing concern over his potential risk to the community.