GEORGE PATTERSON FROM BLANTYRE SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES

In June 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving George Patterson, a pensioner residing in Blantyre, who was apprehended by undercover police officers for engaging in illicit online activities. The incident highlighted the ongoing issues of child exploitation and the dangers posed by individuals seeking to exploit minors through digital platforms.

George Patterson, aged 73 and a retired taxi driver living on Burnside Crescent in Blantyre, was brought before Hamilton Sheriff Court via videolink from prison. His appearance followed his detention after police discovered child abuse images on his mobile device. Patterson admitted to downloading indecent images of children and attempting to initiate sexual communication with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, which marked his third conviction related to such offences.

The court proceedings revealed that Patterson had previously been sentenced to 16 months in prison for possessing child pornography. Additionally, he had been subject to a community payback order for a similar offence, indicating a pattern of criminal behavior concerning the exploitation of minors. The latest incident involved Patterson logging onto an internet chat platform under the pseudonym ‘Hot Crank’. Over a span of two days in August, he engaged in conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a young girl named ‘Jess’.

Prosecutor Neil Thomson detailed the interactions, stating, “‘Jess’ repeatedly informed him that she was only 12 years old. Without any prompting, Patterson sent her a photograph of a young girl in a bikini. The conversation then included one-sided sexual dialogue, and at one point, Patterson inquired whether she had engaged in sexual activity with a boy.”

Following the police investigation, authorities searched Patterson’s residence and uncovered seven indecent images on his phone. His criminal record includes a previous conviction in December, when he was sentenced to jail and placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely after being found with 26 indecent images of children and 58 video clips depicting sexual acts involving humans and animals. The recent offences occurred while Patterson was on bail for that earlier case, underscoring a troubling pattern of offending behavior.

Gavin Lawson, Patterson’s solicitor, described his client as a former marine engineer and taxi driver who had led a law-abiding life for many years. Lawson acknowledged that in later years, Patterson developed an interest in online pornography, which he admitted was damaging and had serious consequences. He emphasized that Patterson accepted responsibility by pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity. Lawson also noted that although the number of images was relatively small and classified as the least serious category, the offences were nonetheless grave.

During sentencing, Sheriff Douglas Brown emphasized the need for a “significant period of imprisonment,” reflecting the severity of the crimes. Patterson was originally due to be released from his current sentence on August 18, but the court ordered that his new 16-month sentence would commence immediately following that date, ensuring he remains detained for a substantial period to protect the public from further harm.