ALLAN GRIEVE FROM FALKIRK AND FIFE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In June 2006, Allan Grieve, a former assistant rector associated with Falkirk High School and now residing in Dunfermline, was sentenced to six months in jail after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a significant collection of child pornography images. The court proceedings took place at Stirling Sheriff Court, where Grieve, aged 45, faced serious charges related to his illicit activities.

Grieve’s criminal conduct involved the accumulation of approximately 400 indecent images depicting minors under the age of 16. These images included some classified as 'category four,' which is considered the most severe level of child pornography. Among the disturbing images recovered by Central Scotland Police’s specialist computer crime unit was one of an abused baby, highlighting the heinous nature of his collection.

The investigation into Grieve’s activities was triggered by reports of inappropriate behavior. Police uncovered his illegal collection after allegations surfaced that he had offered sweets to a 12-year-old girl in an Alloa supermarket car park and had followed an 11-year-old girl, threatening to force her into his car. These incidents raised suspicions that led to a search of his home, where police found some of the illegal images stored on a computer memory stick kept in his shirt pocket during his arrest on August 23, 2005, at Falkirk High School, a school with a student body of approximately 1,200 pupils.

At the time of his arrest, Grieve was employed at Falkirk High School, but he was suspended and subsequently resigned in April 2006. His actions and possession of such material led to his placement on the sex offenders register for a period of seven years. The court also ordered that he be subject to two years of supervision following his release from prison.

During sentencing, Sheriff Wyllie Robertson emphasized that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of the crimes. The sheriff pointed out that Grieve’s collection of images, which included some of the most serious categories, was deeply disturbing. The court noted that Grieve, who lived alone, had built up this collection over time, and that he continued to view the images for days after downloading them, which compounded the seriousness of his offense.

In his defense, Grieve’s lawyer, Grant Markie, explained that his client was a first-time offender with an otherwise unblemished record. The defense highlighted that Grieve’s friends expressed disbelief at his involvement in such crimes, and that his long-term girlfriend remained supportive. The lawyer also mentioned that Grieve had been under considerable work-related stress, which, along with his responsibilities caring for his elderly mother—who had suffered a stroke and was in a nursing home—may have contributed to his actions.

It was also revealed that Grieve had worked as a teacher for 22 years before his suspension and resignation. His case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the images and the circumstances surrounding his arrest, which underscored the importance of addressing such serious offenses within the community.