MURRAY TEMPLE CAUGHT IN ABERDEEN AND TURRIFF CHILD ABUSE SCANDAL

Murray Temple, a 31-year-old man with connections to both Aberdeen and Turriff, was taken into custody following a disturbing discovery made by his partner. The partner found explicit images of teenage boys on Temple's mobile device, which ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Temple appeared before Aberdeen Sheriff Court, where he admitted to downloading and possessing indecent images of minors over a span of four months. The investigation revealed that his online activities extended beyond mere possession; cybercrime officers uncovered evidence that he had engaged in online communication with a teenage boy. During these exchanges, Temple had impersonated an adult woman, encouraging the young male to perform a sexual act. This disturbing behavior added a serious dimension to the case, highlighting the manipulative tactics used by Temple in his online interactions.

It was also disclosed that Temple had a prior conviction related to child abuse material. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to charges involving children and was subsequently incarcerated at HMP Grampian. This history underscores a pattern of concerning behavior and raises questions about his ongoing risk to minors.

The court was informed that Temple’s partner had recorded a video for the police, during which she scrolled through his phone. This footage revealed a collection of illicit images and videos depicting boys and girls aged between 10 and 15 years old. Among the recovered material were three Category B videos and one Category B image, all featuring children within that age range. Additionally, four Category C images of boys estimated to be between 14 and 15 years old were also found.

One particularly troubling video involved Temple communicating with a male approximately 14 years old. In this exchange, Temple pretended to be an adult female, persuading the young boy to carry out a sexual act. Such interactions demonstrate a calculated effort to exploit minors and facilitate their victimization.

Following his arrest at his residence, Temple was charged with multiple offenses, including the possession of child abuse material and communicating indecently with a minor. He pleaded guilty to these charges in court. The judge, Sheriff Lesley Johnston, decided to defer sentencing to allow for a social work report and a comprehensive risk assessment. The court also considered imposing a restriction of liberty order and ordered that Temple be placed on the sex offenders register, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing concern for public safety.