DAVID PORTER FROM KILMACOLM JAILED OVER NAKED BOY PHOTOS AND MENACING LETTERS LINKED TO DUNBLANE KILLER

In September 1997, David Porter, a 41-year-old resident of Wateryettes Drive in Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, was sentenced to a 15-month prison term at Paisley Sheriff Court following a series of disturbing criminal activities and threatening communications. Porter, a former officer of the Boys' Brigade, was found guilty of possessing indecent photographs of young boys, including negatives of naked minors, and for breaching the peace through threatening behavior.

The court heard that Porter’s troubling conduct extended over several years, with allegations dating back to the early 1980s. He had served as a Boys' Brigade officer until 1990, when he left amid accusations of misconduct. Subsequently, he established his own boys’ club, organizing overnight and weekend camps for young boys. It was during these outdoor activities that Porter took photographs of approximately 15 boys in the nude, raising serious concerns about his behavior.

Further investigations revealed that Porter had a collection of films and negatives depicting naked young boys. The police were alerted after Porter’s minister, the Reverend Georgina Baxendale, became aware of his actions and contacted authorities. During a search of Porter’s home, detectives examined his typewriter and discovered the illicit photographs, along with videos and negatives. It was revealed that Porter had coerced some of the boys involved into posing nude by promising access to alcohol and pornographic videos, with the understanding that the images would be kept secret and potentially shared among peers or posted on school notice boards if anyone threatened to disclose his activities.

Porter’s defense attorney, Graham Robertson, argued that Porter was shocked to face new charges nearly identical to previous allegations. He claimed that Porter had kept the photographs as a form of threat, intending to return them to the boys once they turned 18. Robertson also highlighted Porter’s social isolation following his earlier conviction but noted that he was somewhat reassured by the concern shown by Reverend Baxendale. The defense suggested that Porter’s references to the Dunblane tragedy stemmed from his feelings of loneliness and alienation.

In addition to the charges related to indecent images, Porter admitted to conducting himself in a shamelessly indecent manner between October 1983 and December 1994. He confessed to photographing and retaining negatives of young boys and men, and allowing them to view explicit magazines and videos. He also pleaded guilty to breaching the peace on two occasions in March and October of the previous year at The Manse on Main Street, Houston.

The court also considered Porter’s disturbing correspondence with Reverend Baxendale. In one letter from March last year, Porter expressed his distress over a sermon she had delivered, claiming it had upset him deeply. He wrote, “You talked of forgiveness, but what you forgot to add was ‘as long as you are not David Porter’.” He further questioned whether her refusal to officiate his wedding was a personal slight, suggesting that her decision had left him feeling “deflated in the extreme.”

In a subsequent letter, Porter linked his feelings of despair to the Dunblane shooting, stating, “Do you know what it is like to be the only person in the world who can feel sympathy for Tommy Hamilton? I feel that I can understand what he was feeling.” He expressed remorse and confusion, pondering whether he was similar to Hamilton, the Dunblane killer, and lamented his own proximity to violent acts. Porter’s words reflected a profound sense of isolation and mental turmoil, with him suggesting that his actions and feelings might have been influenced by the same pressures that led Hamilton to commit his tragic act.

Porter’s behavior and writings painted a picture of a man deeply troubled, grappling with feelings of rejection, loneliness, and a dangerous obsession with young boys. His case underscores the serious concerns surrounding individuals with a history of misconduct and their potential to cause harm. The court’s sentencing aims to address both his criminal acts and the broader issues of safeguarding vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.