GORDON SHEARER CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN SHOTTS

In August 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Gordon Shearer, a resident of Bon Accord Crescent in Shotts, who was apprehended after a series of alarming discoveries linked to indecent images of children. The incident began when a black Sony mobile phone was found abandoned in the smoking area of the healthy living centre located in Shotts. Staff members at the centre, upon finding the device, decided to investigate its contents by powering it on and browsing through the images stored on it. To their shock and dismay, they uncovered numerous pornographic and indecent photographs depicting minors.

Realizing the severity of their discovery, the staff promptly handed the phone over to Shotts Police Station, alerting authorities to the potential criminal activity. A forensic examination of the device confirmed that it contained a total of 110 indecent images of children. The images were classified into different categories based on their severity, with 27 images falling into the most grotesque Category A, 18 in Category C, and the remaining 65 also categorized as C. Additionally, two more images were found on a second phone discovered in Shearer's bedroom, raising further concerns.

Investigators also found that Gordon Shearer had distributed 26 of these images via a messaging application, which included photographs of boys and girls aged between four and twelve. The police acted swiftly, obtaining a warrant to search Shearer's residence, which he shared with his parents and brother. When officers arrived at the property around 8 pm, they were allowed entry by Shearer's brother. Inside, they found Shearer in the living room with his parents. During the search, officers seized a black Microsoft phone from Shearer's bedroom, which was later linked to the indecent images.

Following the search, Shearer was taken into custody and transported to Motherwell Police Office for questioning. During his interview, he claimed that he was the owner of the Sony phone but insisted he had lost it several months earlier. He also denied any involvement in using Facebook or messenger apps to distribute the images, asserting that he had no knowledge of the indecent material found on his devices.

Gordon Shearer appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children between July 28 and October 15 of the previous year, as well as to the charge of distributing such images. The court was informed of the details of the case, and the judge deferred sentencing until August 23, pending further proceedings. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the evidence and the serious allegations against Shearer, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and online abuse in the Shotts area.