KIERON HODGSON FROM AUCHENBLAE FACES COURT OVER FAILURE TO REGISTER IN ABERDEENSHIRE

In November 2010, Kieron Hodgson, a 27-year-old resident of Auchenblae, appeared before Stonehaven Sheriff Court to face charges related to his failure to comply with legal registration requirements following a conviction. The court proceedings revealed that Hodgson had neglected to update his residential address with the police authorities in Grampian, a breach of the legal obligations imposed on convicted sex offenders.

Hodgson's appearance in court was scheduled on a deferred basis, allowing him the opportunity to settle a fine of £200. The case was particularly serious given Hodgson's prior criminal history, which included a conviction earlier that year for possessing a significant collection of child pornography. During that earlier hearing, Hodgson admitted to possessing dozens of explicit images depicting children as young as two years old. The court had also been informed that he failed to register his address within the three-day window mandated by law following his conviction.

In May 2010, Hodgson was sentenced to a three-year period of supervised probation and was ordered to complete 195 hours of unpaid community service. Investigations into his computer and storage devices uncovered a disturbing collection of material. Between June 2004 and March 2007, Hodgson stored 80 photographs and videos on his computers and discs at his residence located on Roselea, Inverurie Street. These materials included videos of young girls aged between two and 14, as well as a video featuring a young boy. The police investigation was initially prompted by a separate case, during which authorities examined Hodgson’s computer and discovered links to websites that facilitate the payment for sexual images of children.

During the court hearing, Sheriff Patrick Davies expressed his views on the appropriate punishment, stating, “I have concluded that the interests of society would be better served by a lengthy probation order. I take the view that a relatively lengthy period of imprisonment would provide the punishment and do nothing to overcome the problem.” The sheriff emphasized that Hodgson would be subject to supervision under the joint sex offender initiative as a condition of his probation, reflecting ongoing concerns about his potential risk to the community.

Overall, the case highlights the serious nature of Hodgson’s offenses and the legal system’s efforts to monitor and manage convicted sex offenders to protect public safety.