EDWARD CROOKES FROM NAIRN CAUGHT IN POLICE NOTIFICATION BREACH AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

In a recent development at Inverness Sheriff Court, Edward Crookes, a resident of Claymore Gardens in Nairn, faced serious allegations related to his failure to comply with statutory notification requirements and his involvement in possessing indecent images of children. Crookes, who is subject to the mandatory reporting obligations under the Sexual Offences (2003) Act due to a prior conviction, was brought before the court after authorities discovered he had not informed them about a new bank card linked to his account.

According to court records, Crookes had previously admitted in 2012 to possessing over 1,200 indecent images of children, a conviction that mandated strict reporting duties. Specifically, he was required to notify police of any changes to his personal details or address within three days of such changes occurring. The incident in question occurred during an annual notification review conducted on June 4, 2021, when police officers noted a discrepancy in Crookes’ bank account details. Although he had the same account, a new bank card had been issued, and Crookes had failed to inform the authorities about this update.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank questioned Crookes about the nature of the change, asking, “It was just a new card? But the same account?” Mr. Wilson, representing the prosecution, confirmed that the account remained the same, but a new card had been issued. The sheriff then issued a formal admonishment to Crookes for his oversight, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the notification requirements.

In a related but more severe case from December 2012, Crookes was convicted of possessing a significant number of indecent images. He was found guilty of having accumulated 1,246 obscene pictures over a three-month period, with 60 of these images classified at the highest level of severity, level five. The court heard that Crookes, then aged 52 and residing at the Royal Hotel in Dingwall, was identified after a relative of his partner discovered the images on her work laptop and reported the matter to police.

Further court proceedings revealed that Crookes had a prior conviction dating back to 1999 for indecent practices involving a child, underscoring the pattern of his criminal behavior and the serious risk he posed to children. The authorities’ actions and the court’s rulings highlight the ongoing efforts to monitor and control individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those involving minors. Crookes’ case remains a stark reminder of the importance of compliance with legal obligations and the dangers posed by repeat offenders in the community.