KENNETH HOYES FROM SALINE CAUGHT LOOKING AT CHILD INDECENT PHOTOGRAPHS IN ALLOA

In April 2017, a man from Saline faced serious legal consequences after being found guilty of viewing indecent images of children online. The incident occurred at an address in Rankine Wynd, Alloa, where Kenneth Hoyes, aged 70, was implicated in the offense that took place between April 7 and May 31 of the previous year.

Hoyes appeared before Alloa Sheriff Court on a Thursday to enter a plea of guilty to the charges. The court documents indicated that he was accused of either taking or allowing the creation of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. However, during the court proceedings, there was no evidence or testimony suggesting that Hoyes himself had taken or produced any illegal images. The focus was primarily on his online activity, which involved viewing such material.

According to a social work report presented in court, Hoyes demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding the harmful impact his actions could have on victims. This lack of awareness was highlighted as a significant factor in his case. Initially, Hoyes argued that the images he viewed were “only pictures,” attempting to downplay the seriousness of his actions. However, his legal representative, Ms. McCarron, stated that Hoyes now recognizes why his behavior constitutes an offense. She also noted that he has expressed remorse and feelings of disgust about his conduct.

At the time of the hearing, Hoyes was residing on Loch Road in Saline. He was described as leading a stable family life, and his wife was present in court to support him. Despite his age, Hoyes was considered to pose little risk of reoffending, especially given that he had not previously appeared in court for similar offenses.

In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie ordered Hoyes to complete a Community Payback Order with supervision for a period of 12 months. Additionally, Hoyes was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for one year. He was also prohibited from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 unless explicitly approved by a supervising officer. As part of his conditions, Hoyes must make all his online devices available for inspection upon request to manage any potential risks. Furthermore, he is required to engage in work focused on addressing indecent offenses, as directed by a social worker overseeing his case.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of the justice system to address and manage offenses related to online exploitation and the viewing of indecent images of minors, emphasizing both punishment and rehabilitation.