EMMA GRIFFIN JAILED IN KILMARNOCK FOR VIEWING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

In September 2009, Emma Griffin, a 24-year-old woman from Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, was sentenced to one year in prison after being found with a significant collection of illegal images depicting child sexual abuse. Griffin pleaded guilty to downloading 464 indecent images of children onto her home computer. Kilmarnock Sheriff Court was told that background reports described her as a "potential predator" who was deemed unsuitable for community service. Following her release, she was ordered to be under supervision for two years and registered as a sex offender for 10 years.

The police raid on Griffin’s residence occurred in October of the previous year, initiated after receiving a tip-off. During the investigation, officers removed a computer hard drive, which contained the illicit images. Police also questioned her partner before focusing their inquiries on Griffin. The images found on the hard drive had been downloaded from the internet, either free or paid for with credit cards. Several of the videos were classified at level five, which includes content involving babies and children being sexually tortured.

Additionally, police recovered photographs of Griffin in public places near children. Griffin admitted to downloading the 464 indecent images. Her defense lawyer, Douglas Macphee, highlighted that Griffin herself had been a victim of sexual abuse by her maternal grandfather.

The court heard that the background reports on Griffin were "far from positive" and described her as a "potential predator" possibly protecting her partner. Sheriff Alistair Watson expressed his strong views, stating, "This is an offence where every child is a victim. You didn’t stumble upon these images. They were downloaded by you for your sexual gratification."

The sheriff also expressed concern that Griffin had shared her interest in such material with others and emphasized the "significant sexual harm" inflicted on the children in the images. He concluded that a custodial sentence was necessary both to punish Griffin and to serve as a deterrent to others engaged in similar behavior.