DAVID GIBSON FROM COLERAINE SENTENCED FOR DISTRIBUTING INDECENT IMAGES OF TEENAGE GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Coleraine, David Gibson, a 25-year-old man from Lisnablagh Road, Harpur’s Hill, was brought before North Antrim Magistrates’ Court in February 2011 to face serious charges related to the distribution of indecent images involving a minor. The court heard that Gibson was found guilty of possessing multiple indecent images and videos, as well as making and distributing explicit photographs, which led to his being placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years.

The investigation was initiated after staff at a Boots store in Coleraine identified suspicious activity involving Gibson. On March 31 of the previous year, police were alerted when Gibson was observed downloading a photograph of a naked female from a kiosk inside the store. Further reports indicated that he had displayed one of these images inside a phone box located outside the store, raising concerns about his intentions and actions.

The photograph in question was particularly disturbing, depicting a girl who was only 16 years old at the time. She was shown naked from the waist down, with her top pulled up to reveal her breasts. This image was a full-length shot, and its circulation was deemed highly inappropriate and illegal.

When police detained Gibson the following day, he initially claimed that he was being arrested because his brother had sent him a naked picture of the girl. During police interviews, Gibson stated that his brother had asked him to download the images, but he denied having put the photograph up inside the phone box. Authorities seized multiple mobile phones from Gibson, which contained five indecent images and four videos, further implicating him in the distribution of explicit material.

As part of the investigation, police also interviewed Gibson’s brother, who confirmed that the girl in the photographs was his girlfriend and that she had consented to having the images taken. He claimed that Gibson had taken his phone while he was asleep and transferred the images via Bluetooth. The girl herself confirmed to police that she had agreed to have the pictures taken, adding context to the case.

In December, Gibson was re-interviewed by police and admitted to giving the photographs to a third party, acknowledging his role in distributing the images. His legal representative, Barrister Michael Smyth, requested that Gibson be given credit for his early guilty plea and declined an assessment by a psychologist to determine his suitability for a probation order. The prosecution emphasized the seriousness of the charges, which prompted District Judge Richard Wilson to impose a sentence of five months imprisonment, suspended for five years. Additionally, Gibson was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years and a destruction order was issued for the mobile phones and images involved.

In a separate incident, Gibson faced further charges related to a breach of a non-molestation order, an occupation order, and possession of a blade. The court heard that on November 13 of the previous year, Gibson entered his mother’s home at Oakvale Park in Coleraine unlawfully, despite the existing orders preventing him from doing so. He took a seven-inch-long kitchen knife with a three-inch blade from the premises, prompting police to be called by his mother. When officers arrived, Gibson was located and questioned. He admitted to discarding the knife down a drain at Millburn, which was subsequently recovered by police.

His barrister explained that the incident was triggered by a fallout with his girlfriend. District Judge Wilson warned Gibson to stay away from his mother’s home and sentenced him to 240 hours of community service for the breach, emphasizing the importance of respecting legal orders and community safety.