KEVIN HOBBS FROM OBAN CAUGHT WITH THOUSANDS OF INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

In December 2019, authorities revealed that a man from Oban, Kevin Raymond Hobbs, had been found in possession of a significant number of indecent images depicting children. The case came to light after police conducted a search of his residence and uncovered a disturbing collection of illicit material.

Kevin Hobbs, who resides at 11 Croft Avenue in Oban, initially appeared before Oban Sheriff Court in October to enter a plea of guilty to the charges. However, he returned to court last week for sentencing proceedings. During the hearing, the court was informed of the extent of the material found on his devices and the nature of his offenses.

Sheriff Patrick Hughes sentenced Hobbs to a community payback order, which includes two years of supervision managed by social workers. Additionally, Hobbs was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service within a 12-month period. The court also imposed a restriction of liberty order, requiring him to remain at his home between 7pm and 7am for a duration of four months. Furthermore, Hobbs was placed under a sexual offences prevention order that will remain in effect for five years, and he was also registered on the sexual offenders’ register for a period of two years.

The court heard that the police had discovered a total of 4,297 indecent images on Hobbs’s mobile phone, all classified as Category C, which is considered the least severe category of such material. The images predominantly depicted female children aged between nine and 15 years old. The police action was initiated on January 31, 2019, when officers executed a search warrant at Hobbs’s residence. During the search, they seized multiple electronic devices, including a Samsung mobile phone found in his bedroom, which contained the illicit images.

Sheriff Hughes expressed concern over the large volume of images found on Hobbs’s phone, describing the number as “a great concern.” However, he also noted that the images were of the lowest severity level and emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest that Hobbs was involved in ongoing or more serious offending. After reviewing reports and considering the circumstances, the sheriff concluded that the case did not indicate a continued risk, and he emphasized the importance of monitoring and managing the situation appropriately.