MICHAEL POW FROM GOUROCK CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN HIS HOME

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Gourock, a 67-year-old man named Michael Pow was found to be in possession of over 2,000 indecent images of children, some of which were classified as highly severe. The images were stored across multiple mediums, including CDs and a computer, at his residence on Cardwell Road.

Pow had been secretly viewing these vile images over a period of approximately seven years, hiding his activities in a converted room within a hallway cupboard. This covert space served as his private viewing area, where he accessed and stored the illicit material undetected for years.

His arrest and subsequent court appearance at Greenock Sheriff Court followed a police raid on November 9, 2012. During the operation, officers recovered a total of 31 CDs containing indecent images of children. Additionally, they discovered a personal computer in a small dedicated room, which had been converted into a makeshift computer area. Analysis of this device revealed four indecent images stored within a folder labeled 'pictures.' Of these, three were classified as level 1, indicating less severe content, while one was at level 4, denoting a more severe category.

Further investigation uncovered a staggering 1,144 indecent images of children stored on the CDs and inaccessible without specialized software. Once accessed, it was revealed that 71 of these images were at level 4, with the majority at level 1. In total, the authorities identified 1,383 indecent images of children, with 1,344 stored on the CDs. These images were categorized into different severity levels: seven at level 2, ten at level 3, and 22 at level 4.

Analysis of Pow’s internet history indicated visits to websites suggestive of paedophilic content, further confirming his engagement with illegal material. The law classifies such images from level 1 to 5, with level 5 representing the most severe and explicit content. Some of the images possessed by Pow fell into the level 4 category, which is considered highly disturbing.

During the court proceedings, solicitor Derek Buchanan presented detailed background reports on Pow’s case, which were reviewed by Sheriff Derek Hamilton. The sheriff expressed his intent to impose a community payback order, including a supervision requirement and participation in a specialized behavioral program. Pow was also sentenced to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and was placed on the sex offenders register, with ongoing supervision until 2017.

In a previous hearing in May 2014, it was reported that Pow, a marine engineer employed at Svitzer Marine in Greenock for over four decades, had been secretly viewing these images at his home. The police raid uncovered the extent of his activities, which had been ongoing since 2005. The case has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of children and highlights the importance of vigilant law enforcement in tackling such heinous crimes.