BROXBURN MAN STEVEN JAMIESON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN LINLITHGOW

In September 2008, Steven Jamieson, a man residing in Broxburn, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing a significant collection of child pornography images. Jamieson, who had been employed at Deans Community High School for over two decades as a pool attendant, was a familiar face among staff and students alike. His role involved working closely with children as young as five from nearby primary schools that utilized the school’s swimming facilities.

However, the seemingly ordinary life of Jamieson was shattered when police executed a raid on his residence. During the search, authorities uncovered an alarming cache of over 5,000 images of a highly disturbing and illegal nature stored on his computer. The images were described as being of a very disturbing nature, highlighting the severity of the offense.

At Linlithgow Sheriff Court, Jamieson, aged 45, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and admitted to downloading the illicit material. His address was listed as Old Mill Road, Broxburn. The prosecution, represented by procurator fiscal depute Paul Beaton, clarified that Jamieson was not involved in the production of the images but was responsible for their possession and distribution.

During the court proceedings, Jamieson’s solicitor acknowledged the devastating impact of the case on his client. The lawyer explained that following the discovery, Jamieson’s mother asked him to leave their family home, and he resigned from his position at the school. The solicitor emphasized that Jamieson’s resignation was inevitable, stating, “He also lost his job because of it. He resigned from the school but he would have lost his job anyway.”

Addressing the court, the defense highlighted that Jamieson had no history of harming children directly. They argued that while he was responsible for viewing the images, he was not a perpetrator of abuse himself. The defense also pointed out that Jamieson had never harbored any intentions of abusing children and suggested that his actions were confined to his private life, which he had managed to cope with until the case emerged.

Despite these arguments, Sheriff Douglas Kinloch showed little leniency. He condemned the activity, emphasizing the societal harm caused by such crimes. The sheriff sentenced Jamieson to eight months in prison, with an additional two-year extended sentence, citing the over 5,000 images of young children he had downloaded. Sheriff Kinloch stated, “That type of activity creates a demand which substantiates the vile trade these people deal in. It is for that reason that crimes like these are treated seriously by society and by the courts.”

He further explained that many of the images were of a very disturbing nature and that there were no exceptional circumstances to warrant a lesser sentence. Jamieson was also ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and was assessed as being at a medium risk of reoffending. The court’s decision aimed to protect the public from potential future harm, reflecting the gravity with which such offenses are regarded in the judicial system.