CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON FROM FORFAR SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has shocked the community of Forfar, Angus, Christopher Johnston, a 38-year-old former accountancy bookkeeper, has been handed an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to serious charges involving lewd and libidinous conduct towards a girl under the age of 16. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing details of Johnston’s actions, which have led to his placement on the sex offenders register for ten years and a three-year period of supervised release following his incarceration.

Johnston’s criminal activities extended beyond the inappropriate conduct with a minor. The court also heard that he possessed a significant collection of illicit images and videos depicting children. Specifically, he was found to have downloaded a total of 348 such files, which included both images and videos, at his residence in Forfar. These materials were classified as highly inappropriate, with nine of the fourteen videos being categorized at the highest level of severity. The images, which were pseudo-photographs, were downloaded over a period spanning from January 2005 to July of the previous year, in violation of section 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

During the hearing, Sheriff Kevin Veal described Johnston’s case as a “sudden and spectacularly public fall from grace,” emphasizing the gravity of his actions. The court noted that although only two of the images were of the most severe type, the possession of such a large quantity of illicit material was considered a serious offense. Johnston’s defense attorney, Michael Boyd, provided context for his client’s behavior, stating that Johnston was caring for a child at the time of the lewd conduct. Boyd acknowledged Johnston’s admission of breaching trust and his acknowledgment of an attraction to minors of a specific age.

“He has freely admitted the breach of trust … and he had confirmed his attraction to children of this particular age,” said Mr. Boyd. The defense also highlighted that Johnston had sought help through B4U-ACT, an organization dedicated to assisting individuals who experience attractions to minors, indicating some level of awareness and attempt at intervention.

Despite these mitigating factors, Sheriff Veal described the activity as “very serious,” especially considering Johnston’s age at the time of the offenses, which ranged from 30 to 37 years old. The court imposed strict conditions upon Johnston’s release, including a prohibition on approaching the female involved and restrictions on internet access, aiming to prevent any further offenses and protect the community from potential harm.