DRUMCHAPEL MAN GRAEME RIPPEY FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN MOTHERWELL COURT

In a case that has shocked the local community, Graeme Rippey, a 32-year-old resident of Drumchapel, was convicted of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children, along with material depicting bestiality. The conviction came after a trial held at Hamilton Sheriff Court, where the jury unanimously found Rippey guilty last Wednesday.

Rippey’s arrest was the result of an early morning police raid at his home located on Ravenscliffe Road in Motherwell, which took place on November 23 of the previous year. During the raid, law enforcement officers seized a laptop that was central to the investigation. The device had been given to Rippey by his stepfather, who was called as a witness during the trial. The stepfather, however, denied any knowledge of the illicit images stored on the computer.

Rippey maintained that he was not responsible for downloading the images, claiming that they must have been downloaded by accident. Despite his denial, the evidence presented in court led to his conviction. The police investigation uncovered hundreds of indecent images, which included material of children being abused and images involving bestiality, a particularly disturbing aspect of the case.

During the proceedings, Rippey’s partner was visibly distressed. She recounted the moment police arrived at their home with a search warrant. She explained to prosecutor Vish Kathuria that she had just given birth a few weeks prior and was overwhelmed by the discovery. She expressed her shock and emotional turmoil over the situation.

Both Rippey and his partner shared access to the laptop, with her stating that she knew the password but claimed she was unaware of the content. She emphasized that Rippey used the device more frequently than she did. When questioned, she denied any knowledge of the indecent images and described the situation as “horrendous, embarrassing and upsetting.” She also admitted that she had never observed Rippey acting suspiciously with the laptop.

Despite her emotional testimony, she acknowledged that she stood to lose everything if Rippey was convicted but insisted she would not lie to protect him. Her honesty was noted by the court, which considered her statements during the trial.

Following the guilty verdicts, Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen ordered background reports on Rippey and scheduled his sentencing for December 23. Rippey, now residing in Drumchapel, faces a serious legal consequence for his actions, which have garnered significant attention from the local community and law enforcement authorities alike.