GORDON BLUES FROM NAIRN SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SCOTLAND

In March 2014, a disturbing case involving Gordon Blues, a resident of Nairn, culminated in his sentencing to a two-year prison term after being convicted of possessing and downloading child abuse images. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the offences and the location involved, highlighting the ongoing issues of child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement.

Blues, aged 56, was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs following the court's decision. The conviction stemmed from evidence uncovered when a computer repair technician discovered 28 illicit images on a broken computer belonging to Blues. Further investigation revealed additional indecent images stored on a laptop found at his residence on Sandwood Drive in Nairn.

The charges against Blues included possession of indecent photographs of children, with allegations that he had caused or permitted such images to be taken, and that he possessed these images with the intent to distribute them. Despite his denials, claiming he had no involvement with the images, the evidence presented in court painted a different picture.

During the trial at Inverness Sheriff Court, a social worker’s report indicated that Blues’s denial of the offences could suggest a 'high risk' of re-offending, raising concerns about his potential future actions. The case was further complicated by the timeline of the events, with the broken computer being taken for repair in January 2010, although the images were believed to have been downloaded earlier, around May 2010.

Testimony from a computer expert, Ronald Lamont, detailed how the images were discovered. Lamont, who managed Micro Depot in Harbour Road, Inverness, explained that the images were found on a folder within the hard drive of the broken computer, which Blues had brought in for repair. The technician, after failing to recover the computer due to unpaid repair fees of £49.99, identified the images while searching for Blues’s contact details. The images included 11 of a particularly serious nature, along with a video, all of which were linked to the files on the hard drive.

Blues claimed he had taken the computer to the repair shop in January 2010, which was before the images were believed to have been downloaded. He denied any involvement with the illicit material and contested the signature on the repair receipt, asserting it was not his. Additionally, Blues insisted he had purchased a second computer from an acquaintance in August 2010 and maintained that he had not downloaded any inappropriate images on either device.

Further evidence was provided by Blues’s daughter, who testified that the laptop in question had broken down in November 2009, which she attributed to overheating and suspected motherboard failure. She recalled that her father took the computer for repair at the end of January 2010, after the device had already ceased functioning.

Police discovered the images during a raid on Blues’s home in February 2011, when a staff member at the repair shop checked the hard drive to confirm Blues’s address for a small debt recovery. The jury, after deliberation, unanimously found Blues guilty on all three charges related to the possession and distribution of child abuse images.

Prosecutor Roderick Urquhart noted that Blues had no previous convictions related to similar offences but had a history of dishonesty, with seventeen convictions spanning from 1974 to 1987. Sheriff Margaret Neilson deferred sentencing until March 18 to allow for social work reports and ordered Blues to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register with immediate notification requirements. Blues was released on bail pending his sentencing, which will determine the final penalties for his actions and the impact on his future.