GORDON PIKE FROM ERSKINE CAUGHT WITH OVER 22,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN LOFT

In December 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Gordon Pike, a man from Erskine, who was found to be in possession of an alarming number of indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that Pike, aged 55, had secretly stored more than 20,000 such images in his home over a period of nearly ten years, raising serious concerns about his involvement in child exploitation.

According to reports presented at Paisley Sheriff Court, Pike had kept these images hidden in his loft, which he claimed he had never viewed. Despite his assertions, the evidence uncovered during the search painted a troubling picture. The authorities, acting on a warrant, conducted a thorough search of Pike’s residence in Erskine after he was detained at the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) headquarters in Edinburgh. During the search, officers discovered eight computer discs and an additional 37 discs stored within a shoebox in the loft of his house.

When questioned, Pike told the officers that he was the sole owner of these discs and that no one else had access to them. The discs were subsequently examined by experts, who confirmed that all contained indecent images of children. The investigation revealed a staggering total of 22,100 still images, along with some moving images, spread across the discs. The images were classified into categories, with 497 identified as Category A, the most severe level of child abuse material, 847 as Category B, and a disturbing 14,000 as Category C. The images depicted young male subjects ranging in age from five to sixteen years old, highlighting the disturbing nature of the content.

Following his arrest, Pike was interviewed by police but chose to remain silent, refusing to answer questions about the images. His solicitor, Gavin Anderson, maintained that Pike had no sexual interest in children and argued that his client was not involved in any illegal activity beyond possession. Anderson also highlighted Pike’s role as co-chair of the LGBT Centre in Glasgow’s Dixon Street, attempting to provide context for his client’s character.

Furthermore, the court was informed that laptops seized from Pike’s residence did not contain any images, and there was no evidence to suggest he had shared or distributed the material. The case remains ongoing, with Sheriff Susan Sinclair adjourning proceedings to await the preparation of a Criminal Justice Social Work report and a specialist Pathways report. Pike is scheduled to return to court early next year to face sentencing and determine his future legal consequences for this serious offense.