FIFE CYBER STUDENT CAUGHT WITH SICK VIDEO STASH AVOIDS JAIL, GETS SUPERVISED SENTENCE
A Fife College cyber awareness student was found with the most explicit type of child abuse videos but was told by a sentencing sheriff the presumption against short prison sentences means jail is not appropriate.Robyn Wilson previously appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to plead guilty to possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children at an address in Kirkcaldy, between May and September last year.
Heavily-bearded Wilson was referred to as “Miss” throughout proceedings.
Police swooped on the 25-year-old’s home and seized a hard drive the offender identified to officers.
After being interviewed by social workers, the accused returned to the dock to be sentenced and was banned from unapproved contact with children, among other things.
At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Lee-Anne Barclay told the court first offender Wilson was at Fife College on a cyber awareness course for 12 months.
Police arrived at the house at 9.15am on September 19 last year.
Their warrant was issued after officers received information indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet by an account linked to the address.
The court heard unemployed Wilson told police words similar to, “it’s on the hard drive”.
The device identified by the pervert was later forensically examined and found to contain 20 video files depicting child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
Ms Barclay said the children featured were girls and boys, estimated to be aged between six and 10.
The videos, which included penetrative sexual activity with adults, remained accessible to the user.
The fiscal said 13 of the videos were rated category A, the most graphic kind.
She said the videos had a combined run time of more than 20 minutes.
Wilson’s solicitor Alan Jackson said: “It’s my submission there are numerous unaddressed issues in this person’s life.
“They tell me the material came through a chat.
“Miss Wilson had previously looked up support websites but never actioned them.
“This person wishes to be supported.” Sheriff Robert More noted sentencing guidelines point to the starting sentence for Wilson’s offending at 26 weeks in prison but the Scottish Government’s presumption against short sentences directed him away from a custodial sentence.
Sheriff More placed Wilson under supervision for two years and on the sex offenders register for as long.
The sheriff also ordered Wilson to complete the Moving Forward 2 Change programme aimed at rehabilitating sex offenders.
Wilson can have no contact with children under 16 unless approved by a social worker and must complete 60 hours of unpaid work.
Addressing Wilson, Sheriff More noted the “frankly, entirely relevant” adverse childhood events the offender had endured.
The sheriff added: “Having regard to the justice social work report which was prepared with your co-operation, it is evident that you have been commendably honest with the person who interviewed you.
“The number of images involved in your case, which is one of simple possession, is extremely low.
“You have no previous convictions.”
