TOM SKINNER FROM MIDLEM SENTENCED IN SELKIRK FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In October 2008, Tom Skinner, a former health official from Midlem near Selkirk, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty of possessing a second collection of child pornography. This case followed a previous conviction five years earlier, where Skinner was fined £2000 for creating indecent images of children.

Skinner, aged 63, who had previously served as the secretary of NHS Borders for nearly three decades before resigning in 2003, was under surveillance by law enforcement authorities due to concerns about his ongoing activities. The police had placed him on the sex offenders' register, and during routine monitoring, suspicion arose that he was still viewing child pornography.

In July of the previous year, authorities seized Skinner’s computer, which was subsequently examined by forensic analysts. The investigation uncovered approximately 400 explicit images depicting minors. It was revealed that Skinner had enlarged 37 of these images to facilitate viewing on a larger scale, indicating a deliberate attempt to scrutinize the material more closely.

Some of the images found were classified at the most severe level of child exploitation material. During the court proceedings at Selkirk Sheriff Court, Sheriff Kevin Drummond expressed strong disapproval of Skinner’s actions. He stated that Skinner demonstrated a “complete failure” to comprehend the gravity of sexual exploitation involving children through his possession of such images.

The sheriff also commented on Skinner’s attitude towards the material, describing it as “ambivalent to say the least.” Sheriff Drummond noted that Skinner appeared to believe the images were harmless because the children depicted did not seem distressed, a misconception that underscores the seriousness of his offense.

As part of his sentencing, Skinner, who is married and has a 20-year-old daughter, will face an additional two-year period of supervision if he commits any further crimes after his release. Law enforcement authorities will also maintain heightened surveillance over him, including restrictions on contact with children under 16 unless supervised and prohibitions on using a computer without police approval.

Furthermore, Skinner has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions aimed at preventing any future offenses. The court’s decision underscores the severity of his violations and the ongoing concern for child safety in the community.