MALCOLM PORTER FROM EDDLESTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN CARLISLE

In July 2017, Malcolm Porter, a 24-year-old resident of Burnside, Eddleston, near Peebles, was convicted and sentenced to prison for a series of serious child sex offences committed over a period of several years. The case was heard at Carlisle Crown Court, where detailed evidence revealed a disturbing pattern of criminal behavior involving the exploitation and abuse of young boys.

Porter’s criminal activities came to light after police executed a search warrant at his residence in Carlisle. During the search, authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including computers and a mobile phone. The forensic examination of these devices uncovered a disturbing catalogue of child sexual offences spanning from 2013 to 2015. It was revealed that Porter had been accessing and sharing indecent images of children through social media platforms and online chatrooms, engaging in illegal activities that involved the distribution of such material to others for mutual sexual gratification.

Further investigation uncovered that Porter, who was also involved in running a photography business specializing in capturing cycling events, including children, had used his professional platform to contact young boys. Evidence showed that he had engaged in “disgusting and perverted discussions” about sexual activities with boys as young as early teens. The police investigation also revealed that Porter had offered money to children in exchange for indecent images, exploiting his position and the trust placed in him as a photographer.

Porter’s devices contained over 1,500 indecent images of children, some of which were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse. Among these images was a particularly disturbing photograph of a child aged just one year old, who had been subjected to rape. The police recovered 294 images from the devices that fell into this most serious category.

Malcolm Porter faced multiple charges, including nine counts of making indecent photographs of children, five counts of distributing such images, and one count of attempting to cause a 13-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity. He admitted to 15 offences in total, which led to his conviction and sentencing.

Judge Peter Davies sentenced Porter to 28 months in prison. Additionally, Porter was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of 10 years and to comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which aims to restrict his future conduct and protect the community from further harm.

Prior to his sentencing, Porter had appeared at Carlisle Crown Court in June 2017, where he admitted to attempting to cause a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity on September 20, 2015, along with multiple counts of distributing and creating indecent images of children. The court had seized computer equipment from his residence during his arrest. The case was adjourned for further background checks, with a sentencing date set for July 6, 2017. Porter was granted bail in the meantime, but the judge made it clear that prison remained a possible outcome based on the evidence presented.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and the importance of digital forensics in uncovering such heinous crimes. Malcolm Porter’s actions have caused significant harm to vulnerable children, and his conviction serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of engaging in child sexual offences.