ROBERT KENNEDY FROM NEWARTHILL ESCAPES PRISON AFTER CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES DISCOVERY

In March 2021, Robert Kennedy, a 51-year-old resident of Burnside Road in Newarthill, found himself at the center of a serious legal case involving the possession of explicit images of children. Despite initial protests to police officers that the material stored on his computers was merely 'just porn,' authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of nearly 600 indecent images and videos depicting minors on Kennedy’s electronic devices.

The incident unfolded when police officers arrived at Kennedy’s residence shortly before 7 a.m. on February 11 of the previous year. Upon their arrival, Kennedy attempted to dismiss the severity of the situation, asserting that the content was unrelated to any illegal activity involving children. He pointed to two computers in his home and told officers, “I’m a guy. It was just porn. I didn’t know it had anything to do with kids.”

During the search, law enforcement officials also discovered a small piece of paper containing handwritten notes referencing internet searches related to teenagers, further raising suspicion about Kennedy’s online activity. The evidence collected painted a troubling picture of prolonged possession of illegal material, spanning over a five-year period.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Kennedy faced charges for possessing offensive images and videos. Prosecutor Jennifer Cunningham detailed the findings, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the content and the duration of its possession. Despite the gravity of the case, Kennedy was not sentenced to prison. Instead, Sheriff Douglas Brown imposed a community payback order and mandated that Kennedy be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of three years. The court’s decision reflects a complex balance between punishment and rehabilitation, considering the circumstances of the case and Kennedy’s response during the proceedings.