KENNETH MCARTHUR FROM HADDINGTON ADMITS DECADE-LONG POSSESSION OF CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Haddington, Kenneth McArthur, a man aged 54, has admitted to possessing indecent images of children over a period spanning more than ten years. The details of his guilty plea were formally entered during a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, where he faced multiple charges related to the exploitation of minors through digital images.

McArthur pleaded guilty to three specific charges: the possession of indecent images of children, the act of taking or allowing the taking of indecent photographs, and the distribution of these images to others. These admissions reveal a disturbing pattern of behavior that persisted for over a decade, with the earliest recorded possession dating back to January 1, 2005, and continuing until November 20 of the previous year.

The court heard that the images were stored at McArthur’s residence in Haddington, and that he was involved in the creation and dissemination of such material during the same period. The charges specify that he took or permitted the taking of indecent photographs between January 1, 2005, and November 20, 2014, and that he distributed the images from August 24, 2014, until November 20 of the last year.

Additionally, a fourth charge involving possession of extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality was formally dropped after the Crown accepted McArthur’s not guilty plea to that particular offence. This decision indicates that the prosecution did not pursue that charge further, focusing instead on the more serious allegations related to child exploitation.

McArthur is scheduled to be sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on December 6. The case has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the crimes and the length of time over which they occurred, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of children in the community of Haddington and beyond.