JACK BAIN SHAMES WICK WITH ILLEGAL IMAGES CASE AT WICK SHERIFF COURT

In a case that has shocked the community of Wick, police officers uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images during a raid on the residence of a young man named Jack Bain. The incident unfolded at Bain's home in Oldwick Mains, Wick, where law enforcement executed a search warrant on April 26 of the previous year. The investigation revealed that Bain, aged 22 at the time, had stored a total of 43 illicit images on his mobile device, depicting young girls aged between three and 12 years old.

These images were linked to offenses committed over a period stretching from December 12, 2021, to February 9, 2022. The police confirmed that the images were not produced by Bain himself but were instead downloaded from the internet, highlighting the ease with which such material can be accessed online. During the court proceedings, it was emphasized that Bain had not participated in the creation of these images, but his possession of such material was nonetheless a serious criminal offense.

At Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Sheriff Mark Lindsay presided over the case. Bain appeared in court to face charges on indictment, to which he pleaded guilty. The court was informed that Bain had no prior criminal record, and a background report described him as a first-time offender with a low risk of reoffending. Advocate Bill Adam acknowledged Bain's lack of excuses for his actions but pointed out these mitigating factors.

The prosecution, represented by David Barclay, underscored the gravity of the offense, emphasizing that the images were readily available online and that Bain's involvement was limited to possession. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Sheriff Lindsay recognized the circumstances as mitigating, noting that a custodial sentence would not serve the interests of justice in this case. Instead, the sheriff imposed a fine of £600 and ordered Bain to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Furthermore, Sheriff Lindsay issued a stern warning that any future offenses of this nature would almost certainly result in imprisonment. As part of the sentence, Bain was also placed on the sex offenders register for a period of three years, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions and serving as a reminder of the community's stance against such offenses.