PAUL RUDD FROM BROADFORD TERRACE IN BROUGHTY FERRY SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
| Red Rose Database
Broughty Ferry Child Abuser
In a serious case brought before Dundee Sheriff Court, Paul Rudd, a resident of Broadford Terrace in Broughty Ferry, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing and attempting to conceal child abuse images. The court heard that Rudd, aged 62, had engaged in deliberate efforts to hide his online activities by employing specialized software designed to erase and encrypt files, making them difficult for investigators to access.
Despite his attempts at concealment, authorities received intelligence that led them to his residence in Broughty Ferry, where they discovered that he had downloaded a significant number of illicit images. Specifically, police found 2,320 still images on his computer, of which 98 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe form of child abuse material. The forensic experts confirmed that these files were unrecoverable due to the encryption and file deletion techniques Rudd had used.
During the court proceedings, Rudd pleaded guilty to charges that, between October 18, 2015, and June 1, 2017, at his address in Broadford Terrace, he either took or permitted the taking of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. The prosecution highlighted that Rudd had employed file cleaning software to delete evidence and had encrypted files to prevent access, demonstrating a level of sophistication in his attempts to evade detection.
His defense solicitor, Ian Myles, acknowledged that Rudd had cooperated fully with police once his activities were uncovered. Myles emphasized that Rudd was a first-time offender and had been forthcoming with authorities, providing information in an effort to resolve the matter without proceeding to trial. He also noted that a report indicated Rudd could benefit from treatment and that he met the criteria for such intervention.
Mr. Myles explained that the cleaning software was used primarily for routine purposes, such as freeing up memory on Rudd’s computer, and was not solely employed for hiding illicit files. He stated, “It wasn’t specifically for those files. He deleted a lot of stuff from his computer to clear up disc space, it wasn’t specific to this activity. This is not the worst case of its sort.”
In his sentencing remarks, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting that Rudd had engaged in this activity over a period of approximately 20 months. The sheriff pointed out the use of encryption and file deletion as evidence of a calculated effort to conceal his actions. Consequently, Rudd was sentenced to 10 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders register for a decade, and his computer equipment was ordered to be forfeited. Sheriff Carmichael concluded by stating, “Only a custodial sentence is appropriate in this case,” underscoring the gravity of the crime committed in Broughty Ferry.
Despite his attempts at concealment, authorities received intelligence that led them to his residence in Broughty Ferry, where they discovered that he had downloaded a significant number of illicit images. Specifically, police found 2,320 still images on his computer, of which 98 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe form of child abuse material. The forensic experts confirmed that these files were unrecoverable due to the encryption and file deletion techniques Rudd had used.
During the court proceedings, Rudd pleaded guilty to charges that, between October 18, 2015, and June 1, 2017, at his address in Broadford Terrace, he either took or permitted the taking of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. The prosecution highlighted that Rudd had employed file cleaning software to delete evidence and had encrypted files to prevent access, demonstrating a level of sophistication in his attempts to evade detection.
His defense solicitor, Ian Myles, acknowledged that Rudd had cooperated fully with police once his activities were uncovered. Myles emphasized that Rudd was a first-time offender and had been forthcoming with authorities, providing information in an effort to resolve the matter without proceeding to trial. He also noted that a report indicated Rudd could benefit from treatment and that he met the criteria for such intervention.
Mr. Myles explained that the cleaning software was used primarily for routine purposes, such as freeing up memory on Rudd’s computer, and was not solely employed for hiding illicit files. He stated, “It wasn’t specifically for those files. He deleted a lot of stuff from his computer to clear up disc space, it wasn’t specific to this activity. This is not the worst case of its sort.”
In his sentencing remarks, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting that Rudd had engaged in this activity over a period of approximately 20 months. The sheriff pointed out the use of encryption and file deletion as evidence of a calculated effort to conceal his actions. Consequently, Rudd was sentenced to 10 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders register for a decade, and his computer equipment was ordered to be forfeited. Sheriff Carmichael concluded by stating, “Only a custodial sentence is appropriate in this case,” underscoring the gravity of the crime committed in Broughty Ferry.