JOHN SPINK FROM ARBROATH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER DISCOVERY OF OVER 20,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Arbroath, John Spink, a former wind turbine industry executive, was found to possess an alarming collection of child abuse material on his personal computer. The authorities uncovered more than 20,000 indecent images, along with over 100 videos depicting the abuse of children, some of which were classified at the most severe levels of exploitation. The case was brought before Dundee Sheriff Court in May 2017, where the details of Spink’s offenses were laid bare.

Spink, aged 45 and a resident of Arbroath, was dismissed from his position at the time the criminal activities came to light. The court was informed that police had seized his computer equipment following a tip-off, which led to a forensic investigation revealing the extent of his illicit collection. The examination uncovered not only thousands of still images but also numerous videos, including two that contained extreme pornography involving bestiality. These findings painted a grim picture of the severity of his offenses.

During the court proceedings, Spink admitted to downloading indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography at his residence between April 2015 and February 2016. His prior criminal record, which includes a conviction for assault causing severe injury, was also noted by the court. Despite the gravity of the evidence, Sheriff Alastair Brown acknowledged the mitigating circumstances surrounding Spink’s case. The sheriff explained that Spink would have faced a prison sentence had it not been for an undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that he was suffering from at the time of the offenses.

In his sentencing remarks, Sheriff Brown emphasized the deplorable nature of the images, stating, “Every single one of these images represented the actual abuse of a real child and to that extent it is deplorable.” However, he also recognized the importance of considering the mental health issues affecting Spink. The sheriff imposed a community payback order, which includes two years of supervision, and mandated that Spink participate in a sex offenders rehabilitation program. The court’s decision reflects a balance between the severity of the crimes and the recognition of underlying psychiatric conditions that influenced his behavior.