MALCOLM McROBERT FROM BEARSden SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES IN DUMBARTON
| Red Rose Database
Bearsden Child Abuser
A 77-year-old man from Bearsden, Malcolm McRobert, has been sentenced after being found in possession of over 9,000 indecent images of children. The case, which has garnered significant attention, was heard at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, where McRobert pleaded guilty in December to charges related to the possession of these illicit images. The offences occurred between October 19, 2022, and September 15, 2023, at a property located on Kessington Road in Bearsden, as well as other unspecified locations.
Following his guilty plea, McRobert was brought back to court on February 3 for sentencing. The court was informed that the threshold for custodial detention was clearly met given the severity and volume of the material involved. His defense solicitor highlighted that, despite the initial admission of guilt, her client had taken steps towards confronting his actions. Specifically, she revealed that the day after McRobert’s arrest, he approached a charity organization to address his behaviour and seek help.
It was also noted that McRobert had accepted responsibility from the outset. However, there was a delay of over a year in obtaining a cybercrimes report from police, which was necessary to proceed with the case. The solicitor emphasized that working with the charity had been impactful for her client, particularly the victim impact sessions, which he found to be profoundly meaningful. She clarified that there was some duplication of images across multiple devices, including two laptops and an external hard drive, but Sheriff William Gallacher acknowledged that the total number of images remained significant.
During the December hearing, it was revealed that McRobert possessed a total of 9,490 indecent images, with 2,676 classified as Category A, indicating the most serious type of material. The defense solicitor also mentioned that her client had been estranged from his family due to the nature of his crime. She stated, “He has realised the impact of this,” and emphasized that, as a father and grandfather, he now understands that these images are not just digital files but represent real harm.
Throughout his life, McRobert has maintained a clean criminal record, with no previous convictions or court appearances. Sheriff Gallacher described the material as “deeply unpleasant and harmful,” noting that children had been significantly affected. The sheriff pointed out that this was not an isolated incident or a small collection of images, and that the crime had impacted McRobert’s relationships with friends and family.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the offence, Sheriff Gallacher decided against a custodial sentence. Instead, he imposed a community payback order for three years, which includes a conduct requirement for McRobert to work with social workers. Additionally, he must submit all electronic devices for inspection, refrain from unsupervised contact with anyone under 16, and complete 160 hours of unpaid community work within the year. McRobert will also be registered as a sex offender for three years, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the court’s efforts to prevent future harm.
Following his guilty plea, McRobert was brought back to court on February 3 for sentencing. The court was informed that the threshold for custodial detention was clearly met given the severity and volume of the material involved. His defense solicitor highlighted that, despite the initial admission of guilt, her client had taken steps towards confronting his actions. Specifically, she revealed that the day after McRobert’s arrest, he approached a charity organization to address his behaviour and seek help.
It was also noted that McRobert had accepted responsibility from the outset. However, there was a delay of over a year in obtaining a cybercrimes report from police, which was necessary to proceed with the case. The solicitor emphasized that working with the charity had been impactful for her client, particularly the victim impact sessions, which he found to be profoundly meaningful. She clarified that there was some duplication of images across multiple devices, including two laptops and an external hard drive, but Sheriff William Gallacher acknowledged that the total number of images remained significant.
During the December hearing, it was revealed that McRobert possessed a total of 9,490 indecent images, with 2,676 classified as Category A, indicating the most serious type of material. The defense solicitor also mentioned that her client had been estranged from his family due to the nature of his crime. She stated, “He has realised the impact of this,” and emphasized that, as a father and grandfather, he now understands that these images are not just digital files but represent real harm.
Throughout his life, McRobert has maintained a clean criminal record, with no previous convictions or court appearances. Sheriff Gallacher described the material as “deeply unpleasant and harmful,” noting that children had been significantly affected. The sheriff pointed out that this was not an isolated incident or a small collection of images, and that the crime had impacted McRobert’s relationships with friends and family.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the offence, Sheriff Gallacher decided against a custodial sentence. Instead, he imposed a community payback order for three years, which includes a conduct requirement for McRobert to work with social workers. Additionally, he must submit all electronic devices for inspection, refrain from unsupervised contact with anyone under 16, and complete 160 hours of unpaid community work within the year. McRobert will also be registered as a sex offender for three years, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the court’s efforts to prevent future harm.