MICHAEL LAIRD CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT PHOTOGRAPHS IN DENNY

In December 2019, a man from Denny was apprehended for possessing indecent images of children, raising serious concerns about online safety and child exploitation. Michael Laird, aged 59 and residing at 12 Kelly Drive in Denny, was found to have in his possession five Category C images depicting boys aged between ten and thirteen. These images were acquired sometime between August 26 and September 20 of the previous year, highlighting a troubling period during which Laird engaged in this illicit activity.

Further investigations revealed that Laird had also violated a court-imposed bail condition from September 25, 2018. He was found to be in possession of a device capable of internet access, which was equipped with full wiping software, indicating an attempt to conceal or erase digital evidence. This breach of bail conditions added to the severity of his case and drew additional scrutiny from authorities.

The Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that Laird attempted to justify the possession of these images by claiming they were merely family photographs. He argued that the images had been enlarged for artistic purposes, a defense that was met with skepticism by the court. The prosecution and court officials viewed these claims as unfounded, given the nature of the images and the context of their possession.

During the proceedings, defence solicitor Simon Hutchison stated that Laird had not committed any offenses since the initial charges, suggesting a period of compliance and remorse. Despite this, the court decided to impose a supervision order, which requires Laird to be under monitoring for a period of two years. Additionally, he is prohibited from contacting children under the age of 17 and from accessing any computer or internet-enabled device without prior approval from a supervising officer. These measures aim to prevent any further offenses and ensure ongoing oversight of Laird’s activities moving forward.