MAX COUSAR FROM DREGHORN FACES HORRIFIC SEX OFFENCE CHARGES IN KILMARNOCK

A teenage individual from Dreghorn, identified as Max Cousar, is currently awaiting sentencing after admitting to a series of deeply disturbing criminal acts involving child exploitation. The 18-year-old appeared before Kilmarnock Sheriff Court earlier this week, where he pleaded guilty to charges that prosecutors described as being of a 'truly horrifying nature.'

Specifically, Cousar admitted to possessing indecent photographs and pseudo-photographs of children, with the offences spanning a period from June 2, 2020, when he was only 13 years old, through to March 25 of the previous year. In addition to these possession charges, he also confessed to distributing or showing indecent images of children during a narrow window between February 10 and 11 of the previous year.

The criminal investigation that uncovered these offences began when police officers obtained a search warrant for Cousar’s residence in Dreghorn. The warrant was executed on the morning of March 25, with officers gaining entry into the property through the assistance of another family member. During the search, authorities seized several iPhones, which Cousar identified as his own. Initial examinations of these devices took place at the scene, revealing the presence of child sexual abuse content stored on the phones.

Following this discovery, Cousar was taken into custody, and the mobile devices were subjected to further analysis by cybercrime specialists. The detailed forensic review uncovered a staggering total of 1,303 indecent still images and 39 videos stored across the devices. These illicit materials were primarily obtained through messaging applications, with investigators identifying numerous instances of content being shared via 'messenger chats.'

Further evidence indicated that Cousar had actively distributed this material, with authorities identifying 31 separate chat threads within a single application where such exchanges took place. During the court proceedings, his defense solicitor, Peter Murray, emphasized that additional background reports would be necessary before a final sentencing decision could be made. He requested that Cousar’s bail be maintained, citing his full compliance with bail conditions since his arrest.

Judge Sheriff Colin Bissett chose to defer sentencing to a later date, allowing Cousar to remain on bail. The judge also added that Cousar has now been registered as a sex offender, a move that reflects the severity of his crimes. While acknowledging the guilty plea and the disturbing nature of the offences, Sheriff Bissett warned Cousar that a custodial sentence remains a real possibility. He stated, 'You have pleaded guilty to sickening offences. I have a narrative in front of me that I have asked not to be read to the court. It contains crimes of a truly horrifying nature. Clearly, the threshold for custody has been passed.' The case continues as authorities consider the appropriate sentence for the Dreghorn youth.