Teenager avoids prison for porn offences
A Lochgilphead teenager who admitted possessing indecent images of children has been spared jail.
Connor Peter Iain Campbell, of 31 Wallace Way, was given an alternative sentence of a community payback order because of his age and previous good character when he appeared at Oban Sheriff Court last week.
The court heard how the 18-year-old had struggled with his emerging sexuality since early adolescence and had been bullied at school because of it, which led to him seeking mental health support.
Campbell admitted to possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children between August 23, 2017, and January 30, 2019.
The court heard it seemed the offences happened at the time of his struggles ‘in finding himself’. His interest in accessing pornography on the internet began with young males his age but as he ventured further, it included young children.
Exploited
His solicitor, Kevin McGinness, said his client accepted it was not a ‘victimless’ case and ‘the children featured in the images were exploited for a market ... he does express a great deal of shame and remorse that he was part of that market’.
A risk assessment report indicated there were concerns at how Campbell would cope in prison.
After reports, Sheriff Patrick Hughes sentenced him to three years of supervision under social workers, 200 hours of unpaid work to be carried out within 12 months, to be subject of a sexual offences prevention order for five years and be on the sexual offenders’ register for three years.
Sheriff Hughes warned Campbell he would face a custodial sentence if he violated any of the orders.
A previous hearing was told the offences came to light after an investigation involving communication between the accused and a witness on social media. Campbell’s phone was found to have 150 Category A images, which are the most severe; 121 at Category B; and 669 Category C still images.
There were also 110 videos or moving images found on the accused’s device – 75 of those were Category A; 27 were Category B; and eight videos were classed as Category C.