DANIEL FRANCIS FROM LOWE INVOLVED IN CHILD INDECENCY CASE IN DUNDEE

In December 2017, a serious case involving Daniel Francis, a resident of Lowe, Dundee, came to light when he was found to possess a significant collection of indecent images of young girls. The authorities uncovered that Francis had stored a total of 31 videos on his computer, which collectively amounted to over 11 hours of explicit content featuring girls aged between three and 15 years old.

Among these videos, 24 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of explicit material. The investigation revealed that between April 11, 2011, and December 19, 2016, Francis was involved in the possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children at his residence on Arbroath Road. Furthermore, during the same period, he admitted to taking or allowing the taking of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children at the same address.

During the court proceedings, Depute Fiscal Trina Sinclair detailed the circumstances of the police search. Officers arrived at Francis’s flat and were met with his admission that there would be material on his computer. The investigation uncovered that most rooms within the property were heavily cluttered with rubbish and food waste, making access difficult. Despite the disorder, law enforcement officials managed to recover his computer tower, hard drive, and USB devices, which were found to contain the illicit images.

As a result of these findings, Daniel Francis was ordered to be supervised for a period of three years. Additionally, he was mandated to attend the Tay Project, a specialized service provided by Dundee City Council on behalf of the Tayside Criminal Justice Partnership, which offers support and intervention for convicted sex offenders. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for three years and prohibited from owning more than one mobile phone or laptop. Furthermore, Francis was barred from having any contact with individuals under the age of 17.

Earlier in November 2017, Francis’s case was deferred, with sentencing scheduled for December 22. The court confirmed that he possessed the same collection of 31 videos depicting children aged between three and 15, with 24 of these classified as Category A. During the court proceedings, Francis admitted to possessing indecent images of children and to the acts of taking or permitting the creation of such images at his residence on Arbroath Road. When police arrived at his flat, he acknowledged the presence of illicit material on his computer, stating, “There will be stuff on my computer.”

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities in Dundee to combat child exploitation and ensure offenders are held accountable for their actions.