NEIL ROBERTSON SHOCKS PERTH AND KINROSS WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

Neil Robertson, aged 29, has been found guilty of possessing explicit images over a period spanning from June to December. The serious nature of his offense was addressed in court, where he was sentenced to undertake 200 hours of unpaid community service, placed on probation for a duration of three years, and mandated to participate in a specialized program for sex offenders.

During the hearing, Sheriff Donald Ferguson imposed strict restrictions on Robertson’s activities. He was prohibited from accessing the internet through any computer or internet-enabled mobile device. Additionally, Robertson was required to register as a sex offender, a measure that underscores the gravity of his crimes.

Further restrictions included a ban on residing in any house, having unsupervised contact with minors, or working with individuals under the age of 17. These measures aim to prevent any potential reoffending and to protect vulnerable minors from harm.

According to the prosecution, Fiscal depute Charmaine Cole, the investigation began in November 2009 when Tayside Police received intelligence suggesting that an IP address linked to Robertson’s father might have been associated with child pornography images. Acting on this information, authorities obtained a search warrant for the family home.

During the search, law enforcement officers recovered a computer believed to be used by Robertson. Both of his parents provided statements confirming that the laptop belonged to him. Upon detention, Robertson fully admitted to possessing indecent images on his computer. The police investigation uncovered a staggering collection of approximately 10,600 images of children, along with 50 video clips.

Neil Robertson, who previously served in the army from 1999 until 2009, explained that his actions were driven by curiosity. However, the court was quick to emphasize the severity of his conduct. The sheriff pointed out that by downloading these images, Robertson had effectively made over 10,000 children victims of his crime.

Addressing Robertson directly, the sheriff described the offense as "appalling" and underscored the profound harm caused by such actions. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement in Perth and Kinross to combat child exploitation and protect minors from exploitation and abuse.