GAVIN SCALLY OF FORFAR AVOIDS PRISON AFTER CHILD IMAGE OFFENCE
In December 2015, Gavin Scally, an articulate and intelligent man from Forfar, was spared prison time after being found with indecent images of children.Scally, 35, of Thornton Park in Forfar, appeared before the town’s sheriff court to be sentenced after admitting to possessing such images between October 2013 and October 2014.
The case arose following a police raid on his home last October, prompted by information that a device linked to the property’s internet connection had uploaded indecent images of children.
During the search, authorities seized a computer tower, a mobile phone, and a tablet device.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodonable noted that Scally was cooperative when police arrived at the family home.
During questioning, Scally explained, “It was an accident initially but I felt something.
I know what I was doing was illegal but I felt something, not like that, nothing sexual.” Expert analysis at the cyber crime unit revealed a total of 211 images of children on the computer tower, mostly in category C, with a few at the highest category A.
The mobile phone contained over 650 images, while the tablet held just over 200 images.
His defence solicitor, Michael Boyd, remarked, “What has taken place has come as a great shock to the family.” He clarified that the majority of the material had been deleted and was not easily accessible on the devices, emphasizing, “There has been no deviousness in how these images have been stored.” Mr Boyd also highlighted that Scally had been employed at McDonald's and described him as “an articulate and intelligent man,” acknowledging that the crime was serious: “He recognises that this is not a victimless crime.” Sheriff Pino Di Emidio stated, “The court has to take these matters very seriously,” noting the possession of images over a substantial period and some at the higher end of severity.
Instead of imprisonment, the sheriff decided on a Community Payback Order (CPO).
The three-year CPO includes supervision, participation in the Tay Project for sex offenders, a ban on internet access without approval from supervising officers, and restrictions on contact with under-17s without prior confirmation.
Additionally, Scally’s name will be added to the Sex Offenders Register for the duration of the order.
