LHANBRYDE MAN CAUGHT WITH ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY CLAIMS IT WAS 'BANTER' ON WHATSAPP
A man from Lhanbryde, Josh Clark, aged 30, appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court after police raided his home in July 2023 and seized an iPhone.On the device, authorities discovered three videos depicting humans engaging in sexual acts with animals, which had been automatically downloaded between 2018 and the raid.
Clark claims these videos were shared in a WhatsApp group purely as 'banter,' and he had no knowledge they were illegal.
During the court hearing, his defense solicitor stated, 'Somebody else posted these videos onto the group' and emphasized the embarrassment and the fact that Clark was unaware of their illegality.
Clark pleaded guilty to possessing these videos, and the court was informed the videos were not deliberately downloaded but received through a group chat.
The judge, Sheriff David Harvie, acknowledged Clark as a first offender with no evidence of deliberate downloading and decided to defer sentencing for six months, provided Clark maintains good behavior.
Clark expressed that this experience has been a significant lesson and an 'enormous embarrassment.' The case highlights the serious consequences of possessing animal pornography, even if unintentional, and underscores the importance of legal awareness.
