MICHAEL KELLY, AYR-BASED PAEDOPHILE CHEF, ESCAPES JAIL SENTENCE AFTER ARRAN INCIDENT

In September 2017, Michael Kelly, a chef based on the Isle of Arran who previously worked at hotels including the Brig O’ Doon in Alloway, was sentenced in Ayr sheriff court after admitting to possessing a large collection of child pornography images. Kelly, who was 33 at the time, had listed his bail address as staff accommodation at the Auchrannie resort in Brodick following his guilty plea.

Kelly had been found guilty of taking, permitting to be taken, or making indecent photographs of children between July 1, 2013, and September 29, 2016. The court heard that on September 29, 2016, police executed a search warrant at Kelly’s then-residence on Main Road in Minishant. During the search, officers seized a computer belonging to Kelly, which was later revealed to contain over 2,100 indecent images of children, predominantly of young girls.

Following his conviction, Kelly was placed on the sex offender register for three years and ordered to undergo community supervision for the same period. In addition, the sheriff mandated him to complete the 'Moving Forward Making Changes' programme. It was noted that Kelly had moved from his previous address but was currently residing back in Ayr.

A bearded Kelly appeared in court, and the judge decided against imprisonment, choosing instead to impose these supervision orders. Kelly's previous residences include Main Street in Minishant.

In a related incident from July 2017, Kelly was caught with child sexual abuse images, possessing over 2,100 indecent images of children. During the investigation, officers seized his computer and confirmed the presence of the images, most of which depicted young girls. Kelly was released on bail while social work reports were prepared, and he was scheduled to return for sentencing on August 22.