WILLIAM SHOVLIN FROM PORT GLASGOW SENTENCED FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION IMAGES

In January 2019, William Shovlin, a resident of Port Glasgow, became the subject of a serious criminal investigation after his disturbing online activities were uncovered. Shovlin, aged 45, was found to have engaged in a prolonged period of searching for and collecting extreme child exploitation material over more than a year. His methods of concealment included the use of a private internet connection and a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which masked his true location and made tracing his online activity more difficult for investigators.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Shovlin’s residence in the Woodhall area of Port Glasgow in May of the previous year. During the raid, police discovered a significant collection of indecent images and videos depicting underage girls. The material included some of the most severe category A images, which involve the worst forms of child abuse, including rape. In total, the police seized 582 still images and 95 videos from his laptop, which was located in his bedroom.

Prosecutor Emma Jeffrey described the disturbing nature of the evidence in court, noting that some of the images had been superimposed with Shovlin’s own face, further highlighting his deviant behavior. The descriptions of the material, which were read aloud by the court for clarity, were too grotesque and disturbing to publish publicly. The investigation revealed that Shovlin had been actively downloading and viewing this material between March 2017 and April of the previous year.

During police questioning, Shovlin made no attempt to deny his actions. When cautioned and charged at Greenock police station, he chose to remain silent. An examination of his laptop confirmed the presence of indecent images of children, and further investigation uncovered that he had used a VPN to hide his online activity, making it appear as though he was accessing the internet from locations such as New York, rather than Port Glasgow or Inverclyde.

Shovlin’s activities and possession of such material led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings. Sheriff Derek Hamilton presided over the case at Greenock Sheriff Court, where he sentenced Shovlin to a year in prison. The sheriff emphasized that Shovlin showed no remorse for his actions and had engaged in these activities over a lengthy period, which was considered an aggravating factor. The court also ordered that Shovlin be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

In his sentencing remarks, Sheriff Hamilton acknowledged that Shovlin was effectively a first-time offender but pointed out the severity of the images involved, some of which depicted the most heinous forms of abuse. The sheriff described the images as representing real victims and noted that Shovlin’s deliberate actions demonstrated a clear understanding of what he was doing. The court also considered that Shovlin’s lack of remorse and limited progress after participating in the Stop It Now programme indicated a concerning attitude towards his offending.

Had Shovlin not pleaded guilty, he could have faced an 18-month jail sentence. The sheriff concluded that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate response given the gravity of the crimes and the evidence presented, underscoring the serious nature of child exploitation offenses and the importance of holding offenders accountable.