NORMAN HARPER FROM TULLYNESSLE ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN ABERDEEN

In March 2018, a serious case involving Norman Harper, a man from Tullynessle in Aberdeenshire, unfolded in Aberdeen, highlighting the ongoing fight against child exploitation and abuse. Harper, who previously held the position of a features editor at the Aberdeen-based daily newspaper, the Press & Journal, found himself at the center of a criminal investigation after authorities uncovered disturbing evidence on his personal computer.

Harper, aged 60, was brought before Aberdeen Sheriff Court where he faced charges related to the possession of indecent images of children. The court was informed that police, acting on intelligence received from a national child abuse prevention agency, executed a search warrant at Harper’s residence. During the raid, they seized his computer, which was later examined and found to contain a total of 31 indecent images depicting minors. These images spanned a period from November 12, 2014, to January 20, 2017, and included both possession and creation of such illicit material.

Harper admitted to the charges during an earlier hearing, acknowledging that he had made indecent images of children between November 12 and December 3, 2014, and also possessed additional indecent images over the following years. The court heard that the images were part of a disturbing pattern of behavior, raising serious concerns about the exploitation and abuse of minors.

Sheriff William Summers, presiding over the case, described the charges as “serious” and emphasized the gravity of the offense. He stated, “This is not a victimless crime because every child that appears in those images is a victim of abuse. Everyone who views those images is encouraging a vile trade in the manufacture of those images.”

In light of the findings, Sheriff Summers sentenced Harper to 180 hours of unpaid community service and ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of 18 months. Additionally, Harper was subjected to social work supervision for the same duration, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct. The court’s decision underscores the importance of accountability and the need to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.

Earlier in January 2018, Harper had already admitted to possessing 31 indecent images of children during a court hearing in Aberdeen. The police had acted on intelligence from a national agency dedicated to preventing child abuse, which led to the investigation. Harper’s address was listed as Tullynessle, Alford, at that time. The court deferred sentencing, with Sheriff William Summers indicating that Harper would face further penalties, including mandatory notification requirements under the Sex Offenders’ Act, at a subsequent hearing scheduled for the following month.