ALAN MACLEOD FROM INVERNESS CAUGHT WITH OVER 15,000 CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES AND VIDEOS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Inverness, Alan MacLeod, a 46-year-old resident of Friars Street, was found to possess an alarming collection of child exploitation material on his personal computer. The authorities uncovered a staggering total of 15,220 indecent images and 790 videos depicting children engaged in sexual activities, some of which were described as highly distressing and graphic by the forensic analysts involved in the investigation.

MacLeod’s criminal activities came to light after police received intelligence linking his internet activity to the possession of such illicit material. The investigation revealed that MacLeod had been downloading these images and videos between July 2008 and August 2010. During the police search of his residence on August 25, 2010, officers discovered a hard drive with drilled holes, which MacLeod claimed was an attempt to destroy the data. Despite this, computer experts were able to recover the contents, revealing a vast cache of illegal material.

Specifically, the recovered data included 12,789 images and 461 videos stored on the primary hard drive. Additional copies were found on a computer tower, which contained 1,807 images and 329 videos, along with backup discs that stored another 624 images and videos. The material ranged across all levels of depravity, with some videos being so graphic that they caused distress to the analyst tasked with recovering them. Many of the videos contained sound, further intensifying their disturbing nature.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that MacLeod would often download these illicit materials when intoxicated. When sober, he reportedly felt guilt and would delete the material, but the evidence showed that he continued to possess and view such content over an extended period. The police also confirmed that MacLeod had admitted to acquiring the images from the internet and used search terms well known within these circles to access such sites.

In addition to the seizure of the digital evidence, MacLeod was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community service and was banned from consuming alcohol for the duration of his three-year probation. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for three years. The case was brought before Inverness Sheriff Court, where Sheriff Margaret Neilson deferred sentencing until May 21 to allow for background reports. The community and authorities remain deeply concerned about the implications of this case, highlighting the ongoing fight against child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement.