WILLIAM ANDERSON FROM DUNS CAUGHT WITH EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY AND CHILD IMAGES IN SCOTLAND

In September 2020, a man from Duns, identified as William Anderson, was involved in a serious case concerning the possession and download of highly disturbing and illegal images. Anderson, aged 36 and self-employed as a fencer, was found to have downloaded an astonishing number of over five million images, a revelation that shocked the local community and the wider legal system.

The court proceedings, held at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, revealed that Anderson’s obsession with pornography had escalated over time, leading him to access increasingly extreme and disturbing content. Among the material found on his devices were indecent images of children, as well as explicit content involving animals and violent sexual acts. The court was informed that Anderson’s collection included images depicting sexual contact between adults and animals, as well as children and animals, alongside scenes of extreme sexual violence, torture, mutilation, and other forms of abuse involving both humans and animals.

Despite the severity of the charges, Anderson was spared a custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty to three offences related to the downloading of indecent images. These offences took place at his residence on Glebe Road in Duns, spanning from June 2018 to May 2019. The court noted that the number of images on his devices was significant, but the prosecution focused on the fact that each category of indecent images contained fewer than 1,000 images, which influenced the sentencing decision.

Sheriff Nigel Morrison emphasized the gravity of the case, highlighting the disturbing nature of the images involved. Anderson was convicted of possessing images that depicted explicit and realistic sexual contact involving children and animals, as well as scenes of extreme sexual violence, torture, and mutilation. He also admitted to charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and taking or permitting the creation of such images at his home during the same period.

As part of his sentence, Anderson was not sent to prison but was instead given a community payback order. This order requires him to undergo three years of supervision, adhere to conduct requirements, and complete 225 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of three years, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities in Scotland to combat the possession and distribution of illegal and highly disturbing material, especially involving minors and animals.