Child porn man locked up

A TARBERT man who downloaded and distributed more than 500 images of child pornography was sent to prison for a year by a Campbeltown sheriff.

Last Thursday Sheriff Ruth Anderson QC told Andrew Crichton Robertson that only a custodial sentence ‘shows society’s abhorrence’ for his crimes.

In January, Robertson, 46, of 7 Bruce Hill, Tarbert, pleaded guilty to three charges: that between April 22, 2012, and March 21, 2016, he had taken or permitted to be taken indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, a further charge of possession, and that on September 26, 2015, he distributed indecent photographs of children.

Graphic details

Before sentencing, the procurator fiscal told the court graphic details about some of the images and Sheriff Anderson QC said that she had viewed just a short movie clip to confirm these details.

Robertson’s defence solicitor claimed that some images were double counted and the true total might be 272.

Sheriff Anderson QC said that it was not the number but the contents, and added: ‘These are top end images they are violent. These are truly victims of criminal activity which is encouraged by people like Robertson. The children are young...no one knows what will be the longterm effects.

‘The courts must mark such offending and show the abhorrence of society.’