GALASHIELS MAN ANDREW COLVINE/ROBERTSON AVOIDS JAIL FOR INDECENT IMAGES AND DISTRIBUTION CHARGES
| Red Rose Database
Galashiels Rapist
In December 2021, a man from Galashiels, identified as Andrew Colvine (formerly Andrew Robertson), narrowly escaped a custodial sentence after being convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images involving young girls. The 39-year-old was found guilty of possessing eight images classified as category B and C, depicting girls estimated to be between five and 14 years old in sexual poses, with the offenses occurring between May 24 and November 24 the previous year.
Colvine also shared two of these images with another individual via the Kik social messaging platform, discussing rape and sexual acts involving the girls, which Sheriff Peter Anderson described as indicative of a "weakness" and "failing". The sheriff emphasized the gravity of such conduct, stating, "This kind of conduct is totally unacceptable in a well-ordered decent society."
He received a two-year Community Pay Back order, supervised and including a requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Colvine was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for two years. He is prohibited from having any contact with children under 18 and from accessing the internet without the approval of his supervising social worker.
Colvine, who has an address registered in Galashiels and previously lived in Newcastle, pled guilty to three charges related to indecent images of minors. The investigation revealed that he was in possession of images involving girls aged approximately five to 14, posing sexually, but with no evidence of penetrative images. The court also heard that he had shared two of these images with another person, accompanied by messages discussing sexual violence.
The prosecution detailed that Colvine showed his partner a photograph of a child on September 27 of the previous year, prompting her to find it suspicious enough to notify authorities. Following Colvine’s return to Galashiels, police executed a search warrant at his home on October 20, seizing a mobile phone from his residence. An initial examination confirmed the presence of indecent images—one category C and one category B—as well as a chat on Kik involving a sexual conversation and the distribution of images related to children.
During police interviews, Colvine admitted ownership of the phone and using a specific user name but denied involvement in any conversation or distribution of indecent images. The messages, however, were described as "exceptionally crude," with Sheriff Anderson warning him that his sentence was an alternative to imprisonment, offering him "one last opportunity" to amend his conduct.
This case follows heightened security measures implemented in local libraries, where previous offenders were caught downloading illegal child abuse images. Despite tighter procedures, concerns remain about possible gaps in safeguarding. In 2007, another individual, Andrew Robertson, aged 25, was jailed for six months after downloading 185 indecent images at Galashiels Public Library, and similar security concerns persist about online activities within public facilities.
Local authorities emphasized ongoing efforts to improve monitoring and security, including installing new filtering software capable of blocking access to illegal sites and identifying attempted breaches. However, critics like Val Robson voiced concerns that, despite these measures, completely preventing access to such material may be impossible, underscoring the ongoing challenge of safeguarding digital spaces in community resources.
Colvine also shared two of these images with another individual via the Kik social messaging platform, discussing rape and sexual acts involving the girls, which Sheriff Peter Anderson described as indicative of a "weakness" and "failing". The sheriff emphasized the gravity of such conduct, stating, "This kind of conduct is totally unacceptable in a well-ordered decent society."
He received a two-year Community Pay Back order, supervised and including a requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Colvine was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for two years. He is prohibited from having any contact with children under 18 and from accessing the internet without the approval of his supervising social worker.
Colvine, who has an address registered in Galashiels and previously lived in Newcastle, pled guilty to three charges related to indecent images of minors. The investigation revealed that he was in possession of images involving girls aged approximately five to 14, posing sexually, but with no evidence of penetrative images. The court also heard that he had shared two of these images with another person, accompanied by messages discussing sexual violence.
The prosecution detailed that Colvine showed his partner a photograph of a child on September 27 of the previous year, prompting her to find it suspicious enough to notify authorities. Following Colvine’s return to Galashiels, police executed a search warrant at his home on October 20, seizing a mobile phone from his residence. An initial examination confirmed the presence of indecent images—one category C and one category B—as well as a chat on Kik involving a sexual conversation and the distribution of images related to children.
During police interviews, Colvine admitted ownership of the phone and using a specific user name but denied involvement in any conversation or distribution of indecent images. The messages, however, were described as "exceptionally crude," with Sheriff Anderson warning him that his sentence was an alternative to imprisonment, offering him "one last opportunity" to amend his conduct.
This case follows heightened security measures implemented in local libraries, where previous offenders were caught downloading illegal child abuse images. Despite tighter procedures, concerns remain about possible gaps in safeguarding. In 2007, another individual, Andrew Robertson, aged 25, was jailed for six months after downloading 185 indecent images at Galashiels Public Library, and similar security concerns persist about online activities within public facilities.
Local authorities emphasized ongoing efforts to improve monitoring and security, including installing new filtering software capable of blocking access to illegal sites and identifying attempted breaches. However, critics like Val Robson voiced concerns that, despite these measures, completely preventing access to such material may be impossible, underscoring the ongoing challenge of safeguarding digital spaces in community resources.