GREIG WOODS FROM CONDORRAT AND CUMBERNAULD IN GLASGOW JAILED OVER NEARLY 224,000 CHILD PORN IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Condorrat, Cumbernauld, and the wider Glasgow area, Greig Woods, aged 35, has been sentenced to a 14-month prison term after being found guilty of possessing an enormous collection of indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that Woods had downloaded a staggering total of 223,207 illicit images, which included both photographs and videos, stored across various electronic devices including hard drives, discs, and laptops.

These devices were seized during a police raid carried out at his residence in Condorrat, Lanarkshire, on the morning of November 16, 2012. The operation was initiated following intelligence reports that prompted officers from the vice squad to obtain a search warrant. The search was methodical, and law enforcement officials recovered multiple items, such as a black mini-tower computer, a Western Digital external hard drive, a Samsung laptop, a dongle, and several discs. The seizure also included another Western Digital hard drive, all of which contained a significant number of illegal images.

Upon arrest, Woods was taken to Coatbridge police station for questioning. An initial forensic examination of the seized devices revealed the presence of numerous indecent images of children. During police interviews, Woods chose not to respond to questions, remaining silent in accordance with his rights. The forensic analysis uncovered that one hard drive alone contained 103,624 images, another 64,547, and a third 1,247. The Samsung laptop held an additional 1,936 images, while the discs contained 1,535 images. The final Western Digital hard drive was found to contain 50,030 images. The investigation also identified 19 images classified in the most severe category of child exploitation, along with over 300 moving images stored across the devices.

Legal proceedings revealed that Woods had been involved in this illegal activity over a period spanning from August 2008 to November 2012. The court heard that the images included some of the most extreme and disturbing content, such as a pre-teen girl who was depicted as being bound and gagged. The prosecution emphasized the gravity of the case, highlighting the sheer volume of illicit material and its disturbing nature.

Woods’s defense lawyer, Colin Dunipace, acknowledged his client’s remorse and stated that Woods had sought help by contacting a national organization called Stop it Now, which specializes in child sex abuse prevention. However, Woods was deemed unsuitable for their intervention program. The lawyer also highlighted Woods’s vulnerability, noting that he had lost his job, his home, and was burdened with debts amounting to £16,000. His social isolation and loneliness were also mentioned as factors affecting his mental state.

In sentencing, Sheriff Frank Pieri ordered Woods to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. The judge explained that the severity of the case, particularly the enormous number of images and the presence of the most severe category, necessitated a custodial sentence. Although the initial sentence was set at 18 months, it was reduced to 14 months due to Woods’s early guilty plea. The court’s decision underscores the serious nature of possessing such a vast collection of illegal images and the importance of safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse.