NEIL MCGIBBON FROM FIFE JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES IN DUNFERMLINE AND CUCHAR
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Fife, Neil McGibbon, a 24-year-old man from Evershed Drive in Dunfermline, has been sentenced to 240 days in prison after being found in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images and videos of children.The offences, which spanned over a six-year period from January 1, 2007, to May 27, 2013, involved the accumulation of more than 14,000 illicit files, highlighting the severity and duration of his criminal activity.
McGibbon, who was employed as a photo shop assistant at an Asda supermarket in Fife, was apprehended by police in May 2013 following an investigation into his activities.
A search of his bedroom yielded three electronic devices capable of storing media content, which were seized as evidence.
During police interviews, McGibbon admitted that he was aware of the illegal nature of the files and claimed he had come across them while searching for adult pornography.
The court was told that the majority of the images depicted young girls aged between 10 and 12 years old.
Authorities discovered a staggering total of 13,813 indecent images and 306 illicit videos on McGibbon’s devices.
These images were classified primarily at level one of the Copine scale, indicating a lower level of severity, but there were also 171 moving images classified at level four and six at level five, which are considered more serious.
Among the still images, 1,106 were at level four and 97 at level five, underscoring the disturbing nature of the content.
During the court proceedings, McGibbon’s defense solicitor, Susan Gibson, expressed her client’s remorse and distress.
She described him as “genuinely disgusted” by his own actions and characterized him as an immature, socially awkward young man who lacked confidence and was terrified of the prospect of imprisonment.
Ms Gibson also highlighted that McGibbon had sought help through organizations such as Stop It Now and was undergoing therapy with a sexual psychotherapist, emphasizing his willingness to address his issues.
Despite these mitigating factors, Sheriff Charles Macnair emphasized the gravity of the offences, stating that there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.
Addressing McGibbon directly, the sheriff remarked, “Over a period of six years you downloaded indecent images of children on a number of devices.
These are offences involving real victims; and this is not a small number of images — it is a very significant number.” In addition to the prison term, McGibbon was subjected to a two-year extended supervision order upon release, placed on the sex offenders register for ten years, and subjected to a ten-year sexual offences protection order.
This order prohibits him from accessing the internet anonymously, deleting his browsing history, using software to erase files, or browsing without a history tracker.
Furthermore, he must allow police access to any electronic devices upon request and provide the Chief Constable of Police Scotland with details of all devices and IP addresses used in the future.
It was also confirmed by an Asda spokeswoman that McGibbon had left the company at the time of his arrest, indicating that his employment was terminated following the investigation.
The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Fife, raising concerns about online safety and the importance of vigilance in protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
