IAN EDWARDS AND STEPHEN BONE FROM HOLYTON AND VIEWPARK FACE COURT OVER CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In April 2019, a serious concern was raised by a sheriff at Hamilton Sheriff Court regarding two men who had admitted to downloading indecent images of children but subsequently protested their innocence. The court proceedings unfolded within a short span of time, with Ian Edwards and Stephen Bone appearing separately but in quick succession.

Sheriff Thomas Millar expressed his doubts about the likelihood of these men adhering to the supervision orders that were being considered, given their attitude towards the offences they had confessed to. Edwards, aged 52 and residing on Old Edinburgh Road in Viewpark, was found in possession of a disturbing collection of digital material, including 3,351 indecent photographs and 114 video clips. These illicit files had been downloaded onto his home computer over a period stretching from December 2012 to June of the previous year.

During the court hearing, Edwards’ legal representative highlighted that background reports indicated a troubling pattern of denial despite his admission of guilt. The solicitor explained that social workers noted this denial was not uncommon in cases involving such offences. The recommended course of action was a community payback order coupled with supervision, but the solicitor expressed concern that Edwards’ attitude might hinder the effectiveness of such measures. It was also noted that this was Edwards’ first conviction, and he was classified as being at a low risk of re-offending.

Sheriff Millar ordered Edwards to undergo supervised probation for a period of three years. He was instructed to avoid any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 17 unless explicitly approved by his social worker. Additionally, all internet-enabled devices in his possession were to be vetted to prevent further misuse. Edwards was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years. The sheriff warned him that there were serious concerns about the potential success of the supervision order, stating, “If you fail to comply the obvious alternative would be custody.”

Following this, the court turned its attention to Stephen Bone, aged 45, of Gemini Grove in Holytown. Bone admitted to downloading 26 video clips that depicted child abuse, which he had stored at his residence between November 2016 and May of the following year. He also confessed to possessing an extreme pornographic image that depicted bestiality.

Bone’s solicitor explained that his client’s initial motivation for downloading the images was driven by concern for the welfare of two young girls, rather than personal gratification. The lawyer stated, “He fully accepts responsibility for downloading these images, but it was not for his own gratification. He tells me he was disgusted by the material. Any videos he watched were deleted straight away.” The solicitor further added that Bone did not believe he needed to participate in any sexual offenders’ programme but was willing to comply with any court order.

Once again, Sheriff Millar expressed reservations about whether Bone would adhere to the court’s directives. Nonetheless, he imposed a three-year period of supervision, with conditions mirroring those set for Edwards, including restrictions on contact with children and internet use. Bone was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for the same duration, emphasizing the court’s serious stance on such offences.