AYR SEX OFFENDER KIERAN BROWN ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

Kieran Brown, a man from Ayr with a notably secretive demeanor, was found to possess an alarming collection of over 1,750 indecent images and videos depicting children as young as four being subjected to abuse. Despite the severity of his crimes, Brown narrowly avoided a custodial sentence during his appearance at Ayr sheriff court.

Brown, aged 24, had concealed these disturbing materials across multiple digital devices stored at his residence in Churchill Towers on South Harbour Street. When he arrived at court for sentencing, he deliberately turned his face away from the photographer, attempting to shield his identity from the public gaze.

He had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to the possession and duplication of indecent images over an 18-month period, from September 2021 to February 2023. The court was informed that law enforcement officers recovered approximately 28 hours of vile video footage, which included scenes of children aged between four and 16 being abused. Among these, more than 400 videos were classified by police as 'category A,' indicating the most serious level of child exploitation.

Following his guilty pleas in July, Brown was registered as a sex offender, a measure that will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. The investigation revealed that the images and videos were stored on various devices, including two mobile phones, a laptop, a Kindle e-reader, a computer tower, and an external hard drive. Police also uncovered attempts by Brown to delete or obscure the material using different applications, but relevant content was still found during their search.

The police examination confirmed the presence of indecent images on the Kindle and laptop, with a total of 1,757 images and videos recovered from all devices. The hard drive contained files that were not immediately accessible, having been deleted prior to the investigation, but further analysis revealed a significant number of accessible and inaccessible images and videos across categories A, B, and C. The total runtime of the material was approximately 28 hours, with a disturbing distribution across the categories, including children as young as four being sexually exploited.

The investigation also uncovered that Brown used the Kick Messenger app, which allows for high levels of anonymity, to receive images. While there was no evidence of him sharing images, the app's usage indicated active engagement with the material. Despite attempts to clean his devices, police found relevant content, underscoring the extent of his involvement.

Prosecutors requested that a sexual harm prevention order be imposed on Brown to restrict his access to the internet and prevent further offenses. During the hearing, Brown's defense solicitor, Colin McLaughlin, highlighted that a detailed social work report indicated no outstanding issues and that Brown continued to receive family support. His father was present at court, supporting him, and Brown had resigned from his employment shortly before the hearing.

Judge Desmond Leslie acknowledged Brown's proficiency with digital technology and his efforts to conceal his activities, stating, "You knew what you were doing was wrong." The judge emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, noting that the victims were innocent children subjected to horrific abuse in the images. Despite the gravity, the judge opted for a non-custodial sentence, placing Brown under a three-year social work supervision order. He is also required to participate in the 'Moving Forward Making Changes' program, aimed at addressing offending behavior.

Furthermore, Brown will remain on the sex offenders register for the duration of the supervision order. The court granted the Crown's request for a sexual harm prevention order, which will impose strict limitations on his internet access to prevent further offending.

As Brown left the court, his face was shielded by his father to avoid identification by the press. Later, a masked and hooded man was seen hurriedly leaving the courthouse, running along the Low Green to evade recognition, highlighting the ongoing public interest and concern surrounding his case.