MONTROSE TOY STORE WORKER STEVEN DUNCAN CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AVOIDS JAIL

In October 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Steven Duncan, a resident of Montrose, who was found in possession of a large collection of child abuse images. Duncan, who worked at a toy store, was apprehended after police responded to a tip-off and conducted a raid on the residence he shared with his parents and siblings.

During the search, law enforcement officers seized multiple electronic devices, including two hard drives stored in Duncan's bedroom. A detailed examination of these devices revealed hundreds of indecent images depicting young girls. Specifically, one hard drive contained seven videos and 211 still images, while the other held 243 indecent images. All the material depicted female children aged between 10 and 16 years old, highlighting the severity and disturbing nature of the material found.

Steven Duncan, aged 29 and residing on Market Street in Montrose, pleaded guilty to charges of downloading and possessing indecent images of children. The offences spanned a period from May 22, 2009, to June 10, 2014, during which Duncan was at his home address. The case was brought before Dundee Sheriff Court, where prosecutor Eilidh Robertson outlined the details of the investigation and the evidence collected.

In sentencing, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael opted for a community-based punishment rather than imprisonment. Duncan was ordered to complete a community payback order, which includes one year of supervision and 135 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of one year, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the legal measures taken to monitor his conduct moving forward.