GALASHIELS MAN JAILED FOR DOWNLOADING CHILD IMAGES
A man from Galashiels who violated court orders by downloading and deleting inappropriate images and videos of minors has been sentenced to additional prison time at Selkirk Sheriff Court.Thirty-nine-year-old Daniel Emery was given a 32-month sentence last month after admitting to possessing thousands of illegal images and videos of children, as well as distributing them from his residence on St Andrew Street.
While awaiting sentencing, he was on bail with strict conditions not to delete any data or use any electronic device without police approval.
During a police visit to his home on April 15, officers examined a phone that showed significant gaps in its search history.
Prosecutor Chelsea Martin stated that the search history included sexual terms containing the word “young.” Authorities also found 185 indecent images and videos of children categorized as A, B, and C, with category A being the most severe.
Emery told officers he accessed these images and videos when he was sexually aroused and for his own gratification.
He also openly admitted to struggling to control his impulses and described himself as highly sexualized.
Ms.
Martin added that Emery had pretended to be a woman named Ruth in her twenties to engage in online conversations.
Defense attorney Liam Alexander commented, “The temptation to view this material became overwhelming.
He recognizes he needs help to address this behavior.” Emery pleaded guilty to three charges related to possessing and downloading indecent images of children, as well as breaching his bail conditions between January and April of this year.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced him to an additional 21 months in prison, to run concurrently with his previous sentence once it concludes in 2027.
Emery was also ordered to comply with lifelong notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act.
