RICHARD KEARSEY FROM ELLON CAUGHT WITH DISTURBING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY MATERIALS

An elderly resident of Ellon, Richard Kearsey, was brought before Aberdeen Sheriff Court after authorities uncovered a shocking collection of over 10,000 indecent images and videos depicting children. The material, which had a total runtime approaching 11 days, included some of the most disturbing content involving minors aged between two and 15 years old.

During the court proceedings, Kearsey admitted to downloading tens of thousands of such images and videos. He explained that he had little interest in the material itself but had downloaded it approximately eight years ago, primarily to revisit the content stored on a micro-card within his device. The evidence presented in court revealed that the images and videos were classified as the most serious category, including sadomasochistic content involving children. The material was created over a period from September 2021 to February 2023, highlighting the ongoing nature of his possession.

The devices seized from Kearsey contained a disturbing and extensive collection of images and videos, many of which involved toddlers. The court noted that the material was so distressing that it could not be fully described in detail. The images depicted some of the most heinous forms of child exploitation, and the court emphasized the severity of the content involved.

Given Kearsey’s health issues, including ongoing cancer treatment and his responsibilities caring for his wife, who suffers from dementia, the court opted for a community-based sentence rather than imprisonment. He was sentenced to a community payback order with supervision, required to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, and to participate in a sex offenders program. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for two years. The judge highlighted that Kearsey had no previous convictions and took into account his health circumstances when reducing the sentence from a custodial sentence to a community-based one.