LEWIS MACKENZIE FROM INVERNESS AND DUNDEE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In December 2013, Lewis MacKenzie, a 24-year-old man from Inverness, was brought before Dundee Sheriff Court to face serious charges related to child abuse images. The court heard that MacKenzie had engaged in the possession and creation of indecent photographs of children over a period spanning from October 19, 2011, to January 10 of the same year. The offenses took place at a property located in Kirkton, where he either took or allowed others to take such images, which are considered highly illegal and morally reprehensible.

During the proceedings, MacKenzie's legal representative, solicitor David Sinclair, explained that at the time of the offenses, his client was residing in shared accommodation in Dundee. Sinclair emphasized that the police raid on MacKenzie's flat, which involved seizing all items used to access the internet, had a profound impact on his social relationships and personal life. The court was informed that the investigation was part of a broader effort by law enforcement to combat online child exploitation.

Addressing MacKenzie directly, Sheriff Kenneth McGowan acknowledged the gravity of the offenses but also noted the mitigating factors presented in the case. The sheriff stated, “As I’m sure you can now understand, a sentence of this type can attract a custodial sentence. But, in your case, I have decided not to impose this, partly because of the low numbers of images involved and also because of other matters highlighted in the reports.”

As part of his sentence, MacKenzie was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of two years. Additionally, he received a comprehensive community payback order that includes two years of supervision, a two-year program requirement involving participation in a sex offenders project, and a conduct requirement that prohibits him from accessing the internet without prior approval. Furthermore, he was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within the following 12 months.

Earlier in November 2013, MacKenzie had already admitted to downloading over 70 videos depicting child abuse. This discovery was made during an investigation by the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, which uncovered his computer’s access to these illegal images via a file-sharing service. Police executed a raid on his home in Helmsdale Avenue, Dundee, where MacKenzie immediately acknowledged the presence of the incriminating material, stating, “What you’re looking for will be on my laptop.”

During the search, officers seized his computer and found 70 videos stored on it, with an additional 15 videos that MacKenzie had attempted to delete. Some of these videos were classified at the higher end of severity on the scale used to measure child pornography. Prosecutor Susan Ruta told the court that MacKenzie was aware of the nature of the videos he had accessed. MacKenzie, also identified as a student at the time, pleaded guilty to downloading child pornography. His defense lawyer, David Sinclair, highlighted that MacKenzie had since completed a degree in computer arts, indicating some steps toward rehabilitation.

Following the guilty plea, Sheriff Kenneth McGowan placed MacKenzie on the sex offenders register and released him on bail. The court deferred sentencing until the following month to allow for further reports to be prepared, underscoring the seriousness of the charges and the need for a comprehensive assessment of his case.