JOHN AITKEN, SCOTS PENSIONER, CAUGHT WITH EXTENSIVE CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN EDINBURGH
In May 2021, a Scottish pensioner named John Aitken was apprehended after police discovered a disturbing collection of over 1,000 child sex abuse images and a graphics video in his Edinburgh flat.Aitken, aged 69, was found with numerous electronic devices at his residence in Edinburgh’s Old Town, which contained his unsettling assortment of illicit material.
He admitted to a charge covering almost 14 years during his appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.
Prosecutor Jennifer McLaren stated that police had received information indicating an online-connected device in Aitken’s home contained indecent images of children.
Following this tip, a search warrant was obtained and carried out on May 24 of the previous year.
Officers discovered that Aitken was the sole occupant of the property and he confessed ownership of the electronic devices recovered, acknowledging responsibility for the material found on them.
Investigations revealed that some images were classified in Category A, representing the most severe level of child abuse imagery.
Aitken pleaded guilty to charges of taking, permitting to be taken, or producing indecent images or pseudo-photos of children, with the unlawful activity dating from December 6, 2006, to March 24, the previous year.
Sheriff Donald Corke postponed sentencing to allow for further reports, with a hearing scheduled for July.
