MICHAEL HATCH LIVINGSTON CHILD ABUSE IMAGES VIDEO PERVERT JAILED

In March 2012, a disturbing case emerged from Livingston involving Michael Hatch, a man who was convicted and sentenced for possessing highly disturbing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants. Authorities uncovered a total of 15 heinous videos on Hatch’s computer during a police search of his residence, which was located on Clement Rise in Livingston.

Among these videos, seven were classified as grade four, a category reserved for the most severe and offensive material. Some of these videos exceeded 12 minutes in length, with one involving explicit sexual scenes with a baby that lasted nearly eight minutes. The content was described by investigators as deeply disturbing and indicative of serious child abuse.

Hatch, aged 28 at the time, appeared before Livingston Sheriff Court to admit to possessing these indecent images and videos. His solicitor, Gerry Bann, addressed the court, emphasizing Hatch’s remorse and the context of his actions. Bann explained that Hatch had shown genuine guilt and revulsion for his conduct, which he attributed to a period of significant personal stress. Bann detailed that Hatch was experiencing intense work-related pressures, feelings of depression, and social isolation at home, which contributed to his withdrawal from real-life relationships and boundaries.

According to Bann, Hatch’s initial exposure to the offensive material was accidental, having come across it while attempting to access a legal adult website. He argued that this incident marked the beginning of a complex cycle where Hatch was drawn to the images, felt disgusted with himself, and then attempted to numb his feelings through alcohol consumption. Bann suggested that Hatch’s behavior was not habitual or persistent, as evidenced by the relatively small number of files involved and the absence of any sharing or distribution of the material.

He further explained that Hatch’s actions were driven by internal conflict—being attracted to the images yet feeling profound shame and disgust afterward. Bann noted that Hatch had no previous convictions and expressed that he was genuinely ashamed of his conduct. He argued that given the limited scope of the material, a custodial sentence might not be necessary, proposing that supervision and educational measures could be more appropriate.

However, Sheriff Duncan Murray did not accept this argument. He emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating that crimes involving child abuse images are not victimless and directly contribute to the ongoing abuse of children. The sheriff highlighted that each image and video represents a child who has been subjected to serious harm, and that the demand for such material fuels further abuse.

Sheriff Murray pointed out that the videos, especially the one involving a baby, were vivid and corrupting, and that the narration of the videos at level four justified a severe sentence. He acknowledged the presence of some lower-level material but stressed that the explicit nature of the videos warranted a strong response. After considering all factors, the sheriff sentenced Hatch to 41 weeks in custody and ordered him to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the need for public protection.