PAUL BIGGAR FROM PARTICK SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING OVER 46,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN GLASGOW

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Partick, Glasgow, Paul Biggar, a 49-year-old resident of Kennoway Drive, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light when authorities uncovered that Biggar had stored over 46,000 such images on his personal computer and an external storage device, raising alarm over the extent of his possession.

Biggar's guilty plea was entered on March 31, 2016, during proceedings at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The images in question were classified as Category B and C, encompassing both still photographs and video footage depicting children in explicit and illegal situations. The authorities initially believed the number of images could be as high as 56,000, but after a detailed review, the final count was confirmed at 46,394.

The court heard that the images were stored on the hard drive of Biggar’s PC as well as on an external disc, indicating a deliberate effort to retain such material. Despite the disturbing nature of the content, Sheriff Daniel Scullion noted in his sentencing remarks that a criminal justice social work report described Biggar as a ‘low risk’ to children, which influenced some aspects of the case.

During the hearing, Sheriff Scullion referenced legal precedents from both Scotland and England, including cases HMA V Graham and HMA V Ryder, to determine an appropriate sentence. Although Biggar’s defense lawyer, Mr. Robertson, requested a non-custodial sentence, the sheriff emphasized that the gravity of the offense left him with no alternative but to impose a custodial term.

He stated, “I take into account the category of the images which were in your possession. I accept that you are a first offender. The volume of images in this case is high. There was also an external storage device.”

Had the case gone to trial, the sheriff indicated he would have sentenced Biggar to 16 months in prison. However, recognizing his early guilty plea, the sentence was reduced to 13 months. Additionally, Biggar was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent future offenses.

The case has once again highlighted the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in tackling such heinous crimes within communities like Partick and across Glasgow.