ALISTAIR MCGOW FROM DUBBIESIDE AND LEVEN CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN SCOTLAND

In July 2014, a man from Methil named Alistair McGow, residing in the Dubbieside area, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of indecent images of children. The case drew significant attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the subsequent legal proceedings.

McGow, aged 54, was discovered to have stored 21 images on his computer, which ranged from levels one to four in severity. These images depicted boys and girls aged between nine and 14 engaged in sexual acts. The disturbing material came to light after police investigations revealed that McGow had been viewing such content, which he initially accessed after viewing adult pornography. The images included both male and female children, and their presence on his device raised grave concerns about his conduct.

During police interviews, McGow admitted to using a file-sharing platform called Limerunner. He also confessed to searching for terms such as 'lolita,' 'young,' and 'preteen,' indicating a deliberate attempt to find material involving minors. He further disclosed that he had downloaded and viewed videos containing such content but claimed to have deleted these files afterward, removing them from his computer’s recycle bin to prevent his partner from discovering them. Despite his efforts to conceal the material, forensic analysis of his computer revealed the images stored in thumbnail cache files, which could only be accessed through specialized forensic software, confirming their presence.

McGow’s actions and the evidence against him had a profound impact on his personal life. Sheriff James Williamson heard that since his arrest, McGow had lost his job and that his daughter had refused to speak to him, illustrating the social and familial consequences of his actions. His defense solicitor, Mark Harrower, explained to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court that McGow was previously employed as a plant manager at a facility in Kirkcaldy but had lost his position in mid-May due to his inability to function properly under the weight of these allegations. Harrower acknowledged that McGow had been viewing adult pornography, which sometimes inadvertently included illegal images, and that he had returned to look at such material.

Furthermore, McGow was engaged with 'Stop it Now! Scotland,' a national program dedicated to preventing sexual abuse, and was also seeing a private psychotherapist in an effort to address his issues. Despite these efforts, he admitted that between April 29, 2013, and October 29, 2013, at his residence in Dubbieside, Methil, he had taken or permitted the taking or making of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, an act that compounded the severity of his case.

In sentencing, Sheriff Williamson imposed a three-year community payback order on McGow. The conditions of this order included a ban on unsupervised contact with children under 16, restrictions on computer use unless it could retain internet history, and a requirement to complete 225 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, McGow was placed on the sex offenders register. The sheriff emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is the only opportunity you have to avoid custody. In light of a breach, you will almost undoubtedly be sentenced to a term of imprisonment,” underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed his actions and the importance of compliance with the court’s orders.