EDWIN KIRK FROM MONTROSE AND PERTH JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND SEX OFFENCES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning over a decade, Edwin Kirk, a 53-year-old man from Montrose and Perth, has been repeatedly found in possession of a staggering amount of indecent images of children, leading to multiple convictions and severe legal consequences.

In February 2018, Kirk was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to possessing and creating indecent photographs of children at his residence on Rannoch Road, Perth, between May 5 and July 19 of the previous year. His criminal record includes previous convictions for similar offences, notably possessing over 100,000 indecent images and hours of videos depicting child abuse. The police had previously attended his home in 2017, where forensic examinations uncovered web searches for terms like “child sex stories” and a small collection of illegal images stored on various devices, including Amazon hubs and pen drives.

Kirk openly confessed to officers that his urges had overwhelmed him, stating, “The fact I’ve got illicit images proves this is bigger than I am and I can’t fight it.” His admission was part of a plea deal that acknowledged his involvement in the possession and production of child abuse material. As part of his sentence, social workers have been assigned to monitor Kirk for three years following his release, aiming to reduce the risk he poses to the community.

He is already subject to a ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which was imposed after Scotland’s Chief Constable labeled him “dangerous.” The order prohibits him from contacting or communicating with children under 16, deleting his internet browsing history, or disguising his online searches. Police also have the authority to install remote monitoring software on any of his devices capable of accessing the internet.

Details of Kirk’s disturbing interests were revealed during court proceedings, including his fascination with children as young as three and an 80-year-old woman with whom he had a long-standing affair. The court was informed that Kirk had an affair with this elderly woman for over 25 years while sharing a home with her and her husband. The woman, described as “extremely open-minded sexually,” reportedly offered to help Kirk cover his tracks, raising concerns about the potential danger he posed.

In November 2015, Kirk was banned from having contact with children and from approaching the elderly woman, who was also involved in his case. Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to seek a Sexual Offences Prevention Order against Kirk, emphasizing the risk he represented to the public. The court granted the order, which restricts Kirk from any contact or communication with minors and from manipulating his online activity to conceal his searches.

Earlier that year, Kirk was jailed for 34 weeks after being found with more than 100,000 indecent images of children and hours of videos. It was revealed that he had been collecting such material since around 2004, shortly after his previous conviction. Despite his incarceration, Kirk’s online activity persisted, including attempts to access adult pornography via USB drives, which led to further charges.

In January 2015, police uncovered a massive setup in the attic of the elderly couple with whom Kirk was living, filled with hard drives, computers, and USB devices all containing horrific child pornography. Confronted by officers, Kirk admitted guilt, stating, “Is it worth saying now that I’m guilty as hell?” and further revealing his interest in “very beautiful children being naked and sexually available.”

Police investigators, including five trained computer examiners, documented a total of 102,129 indecent images and 761 videos, with the latter running for over six days. Kirk’s online activity was characterized by daily searches for young females in sexual contexts, and he openly acknowledged his attraction to children, although he denied any direct contact offenses.

His defense solicitor, John Boyle, acknowledged the severity of the case, noting that the large volume of images involved warranted a custodial sentence. Sheriff Alistair Brown sentenced Kirk to 34 weeks in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his offences and the absence of mitigating factors. The sheriff remarked that this was the second-largest collection of such images he had encountered and expressed disappointment that Kirk’s remorse appeared limited to his own anxiety rather than genuine regret.

Throughout these proceedings, Kirk’s disturbing history and ongoing obsession with child exploitation have highlighted the significant dangers posed by repeat offenders. His case underscores the importance of strict legal measures, including long-term monitoring and restrictions, to protect the community from individuals like Edwin Kirk, whose actions continue to shock and alarm the public.