RICHARD WARTNABY CAUGHT IN EARLSTON SCHOOL LIBRARY WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON

In August 2005, a disturbing case emerged involving Richard Wartnaby, a father of three, who was found guilty of viewing and downloading a significant number of child abuse images using a computer at Earlston High School's public library in the Scottish Borders. Wartnaby's actions came to light after a vigilant sixth-year pupil noticed inappropriate images on the computer screen and promptly alerted library staff, leading to a police investigation.

It was revealed during court proceedings that Wartnaby had been frequenting the Earlston High School library for over a year, utilizing the internet to access and download illicit material. The library, which is accessible to the general public, became the setting for his illegal activities. According to the prosecution, Fiona MacDonald, the procurator fiscal, detailed that Wartnaby used search engines to find child abuse images, which he then saved onto CDs and floppy disks for later viewing. The investigation uncovered a total of 1,055 indecent images stored on these media, some of which were classified at the most severe end of the scale, depicting acts of bestiality, sadomasochism, and sexual acts involving children and adults.

The discovery was made when a pupil, passing by Wartnaby in the library, saw the disturbing images on his screen and immediately raised the alarm with staff. This prompted an investigation that uncovered Wartnaby’s illicit activities, which spanned from March 1, 2004, to April 8, 2005. Court records confirmed that Wartnaby not only possessed these indecent images but also had them in his home and at the libraries he frequented.

During the hearing, Wartnaby, who was accompanied by his wife, Shiela, pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent photographs of children. His lawyer, Mark Harrower, requested leniency, emphasizing Wartnaby’s current unemployment status and the hardships he faced, including having to leave his family home in Earlston and live in homeless accommodation in Edinburgh. Harrower argued that Wartnaby’s wife remained supportive despite her disgust, and suggested that Wartnaby may not have fully appreciated the gravity of his actions at the time.

However, Sheriff Kevin Drummond emphasized the seriousness of the case, noting that the offenses took place in a public facility, within a school environment, and on at least one occasion, in the presence of a pupil. The court sentenced Wartnaby to two years in prison and ordered that his name be entered on the Sex Offenders Register for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community.