HAIRMYRES MAN DANIEL MCNEIL SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING PRESTWICK AND HAIRMYRES
| Red Rose Database
Hairmyres Sexual Abuser
In January 2012, Daniel McNeil, a man residing in Hairmyres, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing a vast collection of child pornography. The case revealed that McNeil, an aircraft engineer by profession, had downloaded and stored over 2,000 disturbing images and videos depicting the abuse of children, some of which were classified at the highest levels of depravity by prosecutors.
McNeil’s activities came to light when police investigations uncovered his extensive online activity. The authorities discovered that between February 2009 and December 2010, McNeil had accessed and downloaded these illicit materials from his personal computer while working from his home office at his previous residence on Kirk Place in Prestwick. The material was obtained through file-sharing websites, where he collaborated with other individuals involved in similar illegal activities, exchanging and sharing these disturbing images.
During the court proceedings at Ayr Sheriff Court, McNeil, who has been on unpaid sick leave since his arrest, maintained that he was not driven by sexual arousal. He claimed that his interest was rooted in the thrill or risk associated with viewing such forbidden content. His defense lawyer, Tony Currie, stated that McNeil regularly visited these sites but denied any sexual motivation, asserting that his actions were more about the danger and taboo of engaging with such material.
Prosecutors highlighted that among the images and videos found on McNeil’s computer, 71 were classified at the highest level of depravity, with an additional 323 at a slightly lower but still severe level. The police report detailed that McNeil had kept these files in complete isolation, with no known involvement or influence from others, and that his motives appeared to be driven by curiosity and a desire to explore the forbidden.
In court, Mr. Currie emphasized that McNeil’s personal circumstances were difficult at the time, and that he viewed this behavior as a form of escape or release during a challenging period in his life. Despite his actions, McNeil’s family remained supportive, although they were understandably shocked and distressed by the revelations. The court was informed that McNeil’s children continued to have supervised access to him, and his family chose not to attend the proceedings.
The evidence presented was deeply disturbing, with police confirming the presence of 2,181 images and clips, including some depicting children crying and screaming in distress. The severity of the material led the court to impose a custodial sentence, reflecting the gravity of the offense. Sheriff Norman McFadyen sentenced McNeil to one year in prison, followed by a year of supervised release. Additionally, McNeil was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, underscoring the long-term consequences of his actions.
In delivering the sentence, Sheriff McFadyen remarked on the troubling nature of the case, noting that McNeil’s assertion of not being aroused by the material was difficult to reconcile with the accumulation of such a large quantity of depraved images. The sheriff emphasized that the crimes involved the abuse of very young children, including at least one toddler, and that only a custodial sentence could adequately reflect the seriousness of the offenses.
McNeil’s activities came to light when police investigations uncovered his extensive online activity. The authorities discovered that between February 2009 and December 2010, McNeil had accessed and downloaded these illicit materials from his personal computer while working from his home office at his previous residence on Kirk Place in Prestwick. The material was obtained through file-sharing websites, where he collaborated with other individuals involved in similar illegal activities, exchanging and sharing these disturbing images.
During the court proceedings at Ayr Sheriff Court, McNeil, who has been on unpaid sick leave since his arrest, maintained that he was not driven by sexual arousal. He claimed that his interest was rooted in the thrill or risk associated with viewing such forbidden content. His defense lawyer, Tony Currie, stated that McNeil regularly visited these sites but denied any sexual motivation, asserting that his actions were more about the danger and taboo of engaging with such material.
Prosecutors highlighted that among the images and videos found on McNeil’s computer, 71 were classified at the highest level of depravity, with an additional 323 at a slightly lower but still severe level. The police report detailed that McNeil had kept these files in complete isolation, with no known involvement or influence from others, and that his motives appeared to be driven by curiosity and a desire to explore the forbidden.
In court, Mr. Currie emphasized that McNeil’s personal circumstances were difficult at the time, and that he viewed this behavior as a form of escape or release during a challenging period in his life. Despite his actions, McNeil’s family remained supportive, although they were understandably shocked and distressed by the revelations. The court was informed that McNeil’s children continued to have supervised access to him, and his family chose not to attend the proceedings.
The evidence presented was deeply disturbing, with police confirming the presence of 2,181 images and clips, including some depicting children crying and screaming in distress. The severity of the material led the court to impose a custodial sentence, reflecting the gravity of the offense. Sheriff Norman McFadyen sentenced McNeil to one year in prison, followed by a year of supervised release. Additionally, McNeil was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, underscoring the long-term consequences of his actions.
In delivering the sentence, Sheriff McFadyen remarked on the troubling nature of the case, noting that McNeil’s assertion of not being aroused by the material was difficult to reconcile with the accumulation of such a large quantity of depraved images. The sheriff emphasized that the crimes involved the abuse of very young children, including at least one toddler, and that only a custodial sentence could adequately reflect the seriousness of the offenses.