PAUL GALBRAITH FROM MOTHERWELL ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Motherwell, Paul Galbraith, a 50-year-old resident of Cypress Road, was found to be in possession of numerous indecent images of children on his personal computer. The revelation came to light during a police raid on his home, which was carried out in front of his wife, exposing a troubling double life that Galbraith had been leading.

Last week, Galbraith appeared before Hamilton Sheriff Court to face sentencing after he pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing explicit images. The court was informed that the illegal material was stored on his computer between June 9 and September 23 of the previous year. Police investigations uncovered a total of 43 indecent images stored on the hard drive of his computer, a discovery that has caused widespread concern.

The investigation was initiated after police obtained a warrant to search Galbraith’s residence on September 23. Officers arrived at his home around 7:30 in the morning and found him present with his partner. Upon arrival, Galbraith immediately acknowledged the purpose of the police visit, asserting that he was aware of the reason for their presence. He claimed that all the content on his computers belonged solely to him and that he was the only person who used the device. He further stated that the images and files he had downloaded were stored in the lounge area of the house.

During the search, police spoke with Galbraith’s wife, who confirmed that she had never used the computer in question. Following her departure, officers conducted a thorough examination of the device. Galbraith was detained and subsequently interviewed by authorities. During the interview, he admitted to searching the internet for indecent images and viewing such material, confirming his involvement in the possession of the illegal content.

Prosecutor Jason Bell provided details about the nature of the images found. Of the 43 images, 34 were classified as Category A, which involves sexual penetration of children and animals—considered the most severe category. An additional seven images fell under Category B, and two were categorized as Category C, indicating varying degrees of explicitness. Police also discovered search terms within the computer’s search engine, including phrases like “pre-teen,” which further highlighted the disturbing nature of the content.

Despite the severity of the case, Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, Galbraith was sentenced to a community payback order, which includes 300 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to attend a sexual offenders’ programme for the next 30 months. The court deferred sentencing until July 14 to allow for the preparation of criminal justice and social work reports. Galbraith’s bail was continued under strict conditions, reflecting the seriousness of the charges and the need for ongoing supervision.