DEREK LAWRENCE FROM KIRRIEMUIR JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN ANGUS

In April 2012, a disturbing case unfolded involving Derek Lawrence, a man with a background in the Royal Navy, who was ultimately sentenced to prison after police uncovered a significant collection of illegal images on his personal computer. Lawrence, a former aircraft handler who served aboard HMS Ark Royal and HMS Albion before transitioning to work on North Sea oil rigs, was found to possess an alarming quantity of child abuse material at his residence in Kirriemuir, Angus.

Authorities revealed that Lawrence had stored over 13,500 indecent images of children, along with approximately 500 videos depicting abuse, all located on a computer within his home. During police interviews, Lawrence admitted to finding the images “quite exciting” and confessed to being “addicted” to downloading such material. He also claimed that he believed he was unlikely to be caught because he did not subscribe to any of the websites hosting the content, which he thought might have offered some level of anonymity.

Legal proceedings at Forfar Sheriff Court detailed how police had received intelligence linking a computer at Lawrence’s address to the illegal content. When questioned, Lawrence acknowledged that he had visited websites containing both general pornography and child abuse images. He directed officers to the specific computer equipment in his house, which was subsequently seized and examined. The court was presented with a detailed breakdown of the images and videos, categorized according to a five-tier scale used to classify indecent images of children.

The material ranged from 5,098 images and 39 videos at the lowest level, indicating less severe content, to a staggering 201 images and 20 videos at the highest, most serious level. During a voluntary interview at Arbroath police station, Lawrence explained that he used file-sharing sites to access the material, describing how he would input certain search terms to locate the images. When shown a selection of the images and clips, he described scenes involving young girls aged from as young as three or four up to around 12 to 14 years old.

Lawrence was also questioned about his awareness of the illegality of searching for such material online. He acknowledged that he knew it was against the law but maintained that he believed he would not be caught, citing his lack of subscriptions or payments to the sites as a reason for his perceived anonymity. Police found two computers with file-sharing software installed, although there was no evidence to suggest Lawrence was involved in distributing the content, the court was told.

At 64 years old, Lawrence, who resides in Kirriemuir, pleaded guilty to charges of downloading and possessing indecent images of children, covering the period from July 28, 2009, to May 20, 2011. His legal representative, Bob Bruce, described Lawrence as “frank and open” about his actions and highlighted his previously unblemished record, including his service in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Ark Royal and HMS Albion. Bruce also noted that Lawrence, who has been married for eight years, was compelled to resign from his job following the investigation.

He further explained that curiosity played a significant role in his viewing of the images. The court heard that Lawrence’s actions had serious consequences, leading to his imprisonment. Sheriff Kevin Veal sentenced him to 16 months in prison, ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years, and mandated that he remain on license upon his release, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses and the importance of public safety.