DAVID CULLEN OF NEWTON MEARNS CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN EAST KILBRIDE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, David Cullen, a 53-year-old company director residing in Newton Mearns, was found to be in possession of a significant collection of indecent images and videos depicting child abuse. The disturbing discovery was made during police raids conducted at his residence and his place of work in East Kilbride, revealing a troubling pattern of criminal behavior spanning over a decade.

According to court records, police officers initially targeted Cullen after receiving credible information linking his IP address to the online viewing of graphic and illegal material involving children as young as five. The investigation was spearheaded by the National Online Child Abuse Prevention agency, which flagged the IP address associated with Cullen’s office computer at Insulam Limited, a plastics manufacturing firm based in East Kilbride. The company, which produces plastic and laminate components for various industries, became the focus of the probe following the tip-off.

During the raid at Cullen’s office in Fairfield Place, East Kilbride, authorities seized a desktop computer that contained ten photographs and four video clips depicting child sexual abuse. Further searches at Cullen’s home in Newton Mearns uncovered a hard drive filled with an even more disturbing collection of material. This device held 16 photographs and 251 video clips, with more than half of the videos classified as the most severe category of child exploitation. The images and videos showed young girls as young as five years old being subjected to abuse, highlighting the gravity of Cullen’s offenses.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Cullen appeared to face the charges, admitting to downloading and possessing indecent images of children between February 2007 and July 2018. Prosecutors detailed the extent of the material found, emphasizing that Cullen had created clearly labeled folders for the files, indicating a deliberate and organized collection of illegal content. The court was told that the images and videos were freely accessible and that Cullen had stored them over a period of more than ten years.

Vish Kathuria, representing the prosecution, explained that police had acted after receiving information about the IP address linked to Cullen’s workplace. The raid uncovered a desktop computer at his office, which contained numerous indecent images. A subsequent search warrant at Cullen’s home revealed a hard drive with a large number of files indicative of child sexual exploitation, including recognized terms associated with such material. The evidence was deemed highly disturbing and indicative of a serious criminal pattern.

In his defense, Cullen’s lawyer, Tom Watters, stated that the computer had been used to download the illicit material, which was then transferred to the hard drive and taken to Cullen’s residence. The lawyer emphasized that the case would require detailed reports before any sentencing could be determined.

Judge Thomas Millar, after reviewing a comprehensive social work report, decided to avoid immediate imprisonment and instead imposed a three-year supervision order. The judge explained that Cullen’s actions demonstrated a clear understanding of the harm caused, stating, “You now appreciate that this is not a victimless crime. If people didn’t view these images, there would be no need for children to be abused in the first place.”

The supervision order includes strict conditions: Cullen is prohibited from accessing the internet without prior approval from his supervising officer, and he must make all internet-enabled devices available for police inspection, including work computers. Additionally, Cullen is barred from having contact with anyone under the age of 17 unless authorized by his supervisor. He will also be registered as a sex offender for three years, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risk to the community.