ANDRE DUNN FROM BELLSHILL AND DALKEITH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORN DISCOVERY

In a case that has shocked the communities of Bellshill and Dalkeith, Andre Dunn, a 27-year-old former soldier, has narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being found in possession of a significant amount of child pornography. The incident came to light after his fiancée, who was unaware of his illicit activities, discovered evidence of his misconduct and promptly reported him to the authorities.

According to court records, Dunn was found to have more than 1,100 indecent images of children stored on his computer. These images included both photographs and video clips, with the material dating from October 2007 to April 2008. The images ranged in severity, with the majority—959 photographs and four videos—classified as depicting the lowest level of abuse. However, investigators also uncovered 60 photographs and 12 videos that showed more serious forms of exploitation.

The incident unfolded in Dalkeith, where Dunn and his fiancée shared a home. In April of the previous year, she returned unexpectedly and found him attempting to conceal computer equipment inside a wardrobe. When she questioned him about what he was hiding, Dunn revealed a picture of a naked young girl. Her suspicions were confirmed when she seized his laptop and memory card, which she then handed over to police authorities. This led to Dunn’s arrest and subsequent charges.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Dunn had pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years. The court heard that Dunn’s motivations for acquiring such material were linked to his desire to escape an abusive relationship. His legal representative, solicitor advocate Jim Stephenson, explained that Dunn had sought out these images in a misguided attempt to find excitement and hope that his partner would discover his secret and end the relationship. Stephenson added, “He got himself into an abusive relationship and he found excitement in looking at these images. It was his hope that she would discover it and end the relationship. It did work in this case.”

Further details from the investigation indicated that Dunn’s background included service in the elite Scots Guards regiment from 1999 to 2002. His military career saw him perform duties such as sentry at Buckingham Palace, guarding members of the royal family including Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Princess Royal. His role also involved ceremonial duties at iconic sites like the Tower of London and participation in the Trooping the Colour parade.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where the case was heard, sentenced Dunn to a three-year probation order, effectively allowing him to avoid jail time. The prosecution, led by fiscal depute Aidan Higgins, highlighted the disturbing nature of the case, emphasizing the presence of both minor and more serious abuse images on Dunn’s devices. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the offense but also considers the mitigating circumstances presented by Dunn’s legal team.