ABERDEEN MAN HASHAN HETTIARACHCHI CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES OF YOUNG GIRLS
In February 2019, Hashan Hettiarachchi, a resident of Holland Street in Aberdeen, was found guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of possessing indecent images of young girls.The charges covered a period from March 16, 2016, to March 16, 2018, during which Hettiarachchi was accused of taking, allowing to be taken, or creating such illicit images.
The court had initially deferred sentencing to await further reports, but ultimately, Sheriff Graeme Napier imposed a strict supervision order lasting three years and mandated that Hettiarachchi comply with the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act for the same duration.
Details of the case revealed that police officers executed a warrant at Hettiarachchi’s residence and discovered a laptop containing a disturbing collection of images.
The seized device held three Category A images, which are classified as the most severe, and one Category B image, both depicting young girls.
Additionally, authorities found eight images categorized as Category C, representing the least severe level of indecency, all of which involved young females.
The evidence was presented in court to underscore the seriousness of the offense and the potential risk posed by the defendant’s actions.
Earlier in January 2019, Hettiarachchi had already admitted to possessing indecent images of young girls.
During that hearing, he pled guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to the same charges, which spanned the same two-year period.
The police had acted on intelligence indicating that a device associated with Hettiarachchi’s IP address was used to access and view indecent images.
Following this information, officers executed a warrant at his Aberdeen address and seized a laptop containing images of females aged around eight years old.
The investigation uncovered a total of eight images classified as Category C, involving girls aged between 8 and 12 years old.
Despite the earlier admission, Sheriff Graeme Napier decided to defer sentencing once again, this time until the following month, to allow for the preparation of reports.
Hettiarachchi’s address was confirmed as Holland Street, Aberdeen, during the court proceedings.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the possession and distribution of indecent images of minors and underscores the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat such offenses in the Aberdeen area.
