JOHN SUTHERLAND OF AUCHTERARDER ADMITS TO POSSESSING AND SHARING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

In a serious case heard in Auchterarder, a 79-year-old resident named John Sutherland has pleaded guilty to possessing and sharing indecent images of children. The incident came to light after police conducted a search of his residence on Milton Crescent, uncovering a disturbing collection of illicit material.

During the investigation, authorities found that Sutherland had stored a total of 182 indecent images and 116 videos depicting children within his home. The police search revealed that he possessed these materials on multiple devices, including his PC tower, an iPad, and several discs scattered throughout his residence. The authorities also discovered that Sutherland had accumulated approximately six and a half hours of indecent footage, highlighting the extent of his possession.

The police action was initiated following confidential intelligence suggesting that Sutherland was responsible for uploading numerous indecent images of children to the internet. The images found were predominantly of young males, but there were also photographs of young females. The ages of the children depicted ranged from as young as three years old up to 16 years old, underscoring the severity of the material involved.

According to Deputy Fiscal Susan Ruta, the images were classified into different categories based on their severity. She stated that there were 169 images categorized as Category C, nine as Category B, and four as Category A. The videos were similarly classified, with 29 in Category C, 22 in Category B, and 65 in Category A. These categories reflect the increasing levels of severity and explicitness of the content.

Further details revealed that Sutherland had also engaged in the distribution of this illicit material. On May 29, 2015, he sent three emails containing indecent images as attachments, further demonstrating his involvement in sharing such material. The investigation established that between March 23, 2015, and July 30, 2015, at his residence in Auchterarder, Sutherland was in possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. Additionally, he admitted to distributing or showing these images on the same date, May 29, 2015.

At the hearing, Sheriff William Wood acknowledged the gravity of the case and decided to defer sentencing until the following month to allow for the preparation of reports. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, especially involving vulnerable young victims.