MALCOLM AITKEN JAILED IN YORK FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGE OFFENCES

In July 2017, Malcolm Derek Aitken was sentenced to 22 months in jail after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children, despite having undergone specialist treatment for his offending behavior. Prosecutor Heather Gilmore reported that police found nearly 11,000 indecent images of children as young as two on Aitken’s phone. These images were downloaded over a period of six months in the previous year. Aitken, who had a prior conviction for similar offenses—an earlier case that resulted in participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program—was also subject to a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) at the time of his arrest. He admitted to police that he was sexually interested in children and fantasized about them but stated he preferred viewing sexual images online rather than engaging with children directly. Judge Andrew Stubbs QC described Aitken’s actions as stemming from an “uncontrollable desire” and expressed concerns about his risk to the community. “The risk you pose, I agree with the probation service, isn’t manageable in the community,” he said, sentencing Aitken at York Crown Court. In addition to his custodial sentence, Aitken, 30, of Westgate Carr Road, Pickering, and Whitby, was placed on the sex offenders’ register and subjected to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). Conditions include restrictions on internet use, police monitoring of all devices used to access the internet, and a ban on contact with children under 16. Aitken pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images, which included 159 of the most serious category, 187 in the mid-range, and over 10,500 of the least serious category. The images predominantly depicted girls aged between two and 14, with many under eight, along with some images of boys. Ms. Clancy highlighted that Aitken “wishes desperately to rehabilitate himself,” noting his history of suicide attempts—one in December 2016 following his arrest and another prior to his initial sentencing for possessing indecent images in 2008. His family remains supportive. She also mentioned that research has cast doubt on the overall efficacy of sex offender treatment programs in preventing reoffending.