MARK FAGAN FROM CARDENDEN CAUGHT WITH OVER 300 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN DUNFERMLINE

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Cardenden, Mark Fagan was found to be in possession of more than 300 indecent images depicting minors, during a police raid at his residence. The incident was uncovered after authorities received intelligence indicating that Fagan was downloading illicit material from his home on Derran Drive in October 2020.

On the morning of October 21, police officers executed a search warrant at approximately 8:15 am, entering Fagan’s property to investigate the allegations. During the search, they discovered a collection of obscene files stored on his electronic devices, which included a laptop and a mobile phone. A preliminary examination of these devices revealed that the images involved young girls aged between 12 and 14 years old. Many of the photographs depicted these minors in sexualized poses, with some girls shown topless or partially clothed, raising serious concerns about the exploitation and abuse of minors.

Fagan, who was present during the police interview, initially denied having any indecent images on his devices or mobile phones. However, he did admit to owning a laptop and a mobile phone, providing police with the passwords to access these devices. Despite his denial, the forensic analysis confirmed the presence of over 300 images classified as Category C under Scottish guidelines, indicating material of a sexual nature involving minors.

During questioning, Fagan claimed that he was unaware that the images he downloaded depicted underage girls. He insisted, “I have never willingly watched child porn,” attempting to deny any malicious intent. Nevertheless, the evidence collected was substantial and pointed to his possession of illegal material.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, the prosecution outlined the details of the case, emphasizing the severity of the material found. The court was told that the images showed young girls in sexualized situations, many of whom appeared to be between 12 and 14 years old. The authorities confirmed that Fagan had downloaded these images from his home address, and he was subsequently charged with possession of indecent images of children.

Fagan, aged 38, appeared in court to face the charges. His solicitor, Zander Flett, acknowledged his client’s responsibility for possessing the images and noted that Fagan had cooperated with authorities. Social workers assessed Fagan as a low-risk offender, which influenced the court’s decision regarding sentencing.

In sentencing, Sheriff Wylie Robertson ordered that Fagan be placed on the sex offenders register and banned from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. He was also sentenced to serve 15 months under social supervision, during which he must keep all electronic devices available for inspection and is prohibited from creating or maintaining social media accounts without prior approval. Additionally, Fagan was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid community work and ordered to remain under supervision for 15 months. The court’s decision reflects a balance between addressing the seriousness of the offense and recognizing Fagan’s low-risk status, with the aim of preventing future harm and ensuring community safety.