ERSKINE MAN STEVEN KEITH CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN RENFREWSHIRE

In August 2015, an incident involving Steven Keith, a resident of Erskine, drew significant attention from local authorities and the community due to the disturbing nature of the evidence found at his home. Keith, who shared his residence with his mother and stepfather on Mains Drive, was discovered to possess a large collection of illegal and indecent images of children, sparking a serious criminal investigation.

Police executed a search warrant at Keith’s home on July 7, 2014, after receiving information that prompted a thorough investigation into his activities. Upon arrival, officers found Keith, along with his mother and stepfather, all present at the property. The officers announced their purpose, informing the trio that they were there to seize any electronic devices capable of accessing the internet, which could contain evidence related to illegal activities.

During the search, Keith voluntarily mentioned that he had a laptop and a PC upstairs in his room. The police seized these devices, which were subsequently examined by computer forensic experts. The analysis revealed that Keith’s laptop had been used to search for terms associated with child pornography. Despite Keith’s initial silence and refusal to comment during detention, the evidence uncovered was damning.

Further forensic analysis of the computers uncovered a staggering total of 2,638 indecent images of children stored on Keith’s laptop. Of these, 1,605 were identified as unique images, with the remaining being duplicates, likely resulting from deletions. The images were classified at the lowest level of severity, Level One, indicating they were among the least explicit but still illegal. The photographs depicted girls aged between eight and fifteen in provocative poses, and it was believed that many of these images had been downloaded via file-sharing applications.

In addition to photographs, investigators found four pornographic films among the files. All of the images and videos had reportedly been deleted from the device, yet their existence was confirmed through forensic recovery. The case was brought before Sheriff David Pender, who was informed of the evidence and the nature of the images.

Initially, the case was adjourned to allow for a social work assessment of Keith, as part of the sentencing process. Keith was released on bail pending the outcome of this assessment. When he appeared again in court, Sheriff Pender decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, Keith was placed under a Community Payback Order, which requires him to be supervised by social workers for the next three years. As part of this order, he must complete 240 hours of unpaid work over the following nine months and is also required to register as a sex offender for three years. Furthermore, Keith is prohibited from owning any device capable of accessing the internet, a measure aimed at preventing further offenses.

Throughout the proceedings, the seriousness of Keith’s actions was underscored by the court, highlighting the potential harm caused by such illegal material. The case served as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and social services to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals in communities like Erskine and across Renfrewshire.