RIKKI HENDERSON STRICHEN POLICE OFFICER CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN ABERDEEN
| Red Rose Database
Strichen Child Sexual Abuser
In October 2018, a former police officer from the north-east of Scotland, Rikki Henderson, was involved in a disturbing case that drew significant attention from local authorities and the community. Henderson, who resided on Bridge Street in Strichen, was found to possess a horrifying collection of indecent images depicting children, which led to serious legal consequences despite him being spared immediate imprisonment.
During a trial held at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in August, Henderson was convicted on three charges related to the possession and distribution of these illicit images. The court proceedings revealed that images of children as young as eight engaged in sadistic sexual acts were discovered within the 'sent' folder of his WhatsApp account. Out of nine images found, seven were classified as Category C, indicating the least severe level of indecency, while one was categorized as B and another as A, the most serious classification.
In addition to the possession of child abuse images, Henderson faced allegations of two sexual assaults at the Army Cadet Force in Boddam, near Peterhead. However, the jury ultimately found these charges not proven, and Henderson maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. The court also heard that Henderson had taken and shared a private photograph of a woman’s intimate parts, which added to the gravity of his misconduct.
Henderson, aged 25 at the time, had denied all allegations. His defense solicitor, John MacLeod, argued that his client had suffered significant personal losses as a consequence of these events. MacLeod highlighted that reports indicated Henderson lacked emotional maturity and had lost two careers—his role as a police officer and his position within the Army Cadet Force.
During sentencing, Sheriff William Summers addressed Henderson directly, emphasizing the impact of his actions on the victim who had been compelled to testify in court. The sheriff remarked that the woman had conducted herself with dignity, which starkly contrasted with Henderson’s conduct. Sheriff Summers acknowledged the profound personal toll the case had taken on Henderson, stating, “I recognize that your life has fallen apart in a very meaningful way. You are solely and entirely the author of that.”
As part of his sentence, Henderson was placed under supervision and required to register as a sex offender for three years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 260 hours of unpaid community service. The court’s decision reflected the seriousness of his offenses, even though he was spared immediate jail time.
Earlier in August, Henderson’s conduct had already come under scrutiny when he was warned about the possibility of imprisonment for possessing depraved images on his mobile device. It was also revealed that he had taken a nude photograph of his girlfriend after she exited a hotel shower and sent it to a friend, an act that further compounded his misconduct.
Henderson’s background included service as a police officer in Fraserburgh and a role as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cadet Force. He was suspended from both positions following his arrest at Edinburgh Airport, where police uncovered the disturbing images on his Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Detective Neil Adam, involved in the investigation, confirmed that the images depicted sadistic sexual acts involving children as young as eight, and suggested that these images might have been automatically transferred via Henderson’s WhatsApp account.
The court also heard about the private photograph of Henderson’s girlfriend, taken during a stay at the Citizen M Hotel in Glasgow. She testified that she was unaware of the photo until detectives showed it to her months later. She described feeling “sick,” “betrayed,” and “upset,” and confirmed that they were no longer a couple.
In police interviews, Henderson expressed remorse, stating, “She means the world to me. I’ve just put her through s**t and feel really bad. I’ve let her down. I’ve let my family down. I want to tell everything but I can’t.”
Furthermore, the jury found that two allegations of drunken sexual assaults at the officer’s mess in Boddam were not proven, and Henderson was cleared of another charge related to indecent images at his home in Strichen. Despite these acquittals, Henderson remains on the sex offenders register and has been suspended from his roles in both the police force and the Army Cadet Force. It is understood that he has recently resigned from the police service and will soon be dismissed from the cadets by military authorities. Police Scotland declined to comment further on the case.
During a trial held at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in August, Henderson was convicted on three charges related to the possession and distribution of these illicit images. The court proceedings revealed that images of children as young as eight engaged in sadistic sexual acts were discovered within the 'sent' folder of his WhatsApp account. Out of nine images found, seven were classified as Category C, indicating the least severe level of indecency, while one was categorized as B and another as A, the most serious classification.
In addition to the possession of child abuse images, Henderson faced allegations of two sexual assaults at the Army Cadet Force in Boddam, near Peterhead. However, the jury ultimately found these charges not proven, and Henderson maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. The court also heard that Henderson had taken and shared a private photograph of a woman’s intimate parts, which added to the gravity of his misconduct.
Henderson, aged 25 at the time, had denied all allegations. His defense solicitor, John MacLeod, argued that his client had suffered significant personal losses as a consequence of these events. MacLeod highlighted that reports indicated Henderson lacked emotional maturity and had lost two careers—his role as a police officer and his position within the Army Cadet Force.
During sentencing, Sheriff William Summers addressed Henderson directly, emphasizing the impact of his actions on the victim who had been compelled to testify in court. The sheriff remarked that the woman had conducted herself with dignity, which starkly contrasted with Henderson’s conduct. Sheriff Summers acknowledged the profound personal toll the case had taken on Henderson, stating, “I recognize that your life has fallen apart in a very meaningful way. You are solely and entirely the author of that.”
As part of his sentence, Henderson was placed under supervision and required to register as a sex offender for three years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 260 hours of unpaid community service. The court’s decision reflected the seriousness of his offenses, even though he was spared immediate jail time.
Earlier in August, Henderson’s conduct had already come under scrutiny when he was warned about the possibility of imprisonment for possessing depraved images on his mobile device. It was also revealed that he had taken a nude photograph of his girlfriend after she exited a hotel shower and sent it to a friend, an act that further compounded his misconduct.
Henderson’s background included service as a police officer in Fraserburgh and a role as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cadet Force. He was suspended from both positions following his arrest at Edinburgh Airport, where police uncovered the disturbing images on his Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Detective Neil Adam, involved in the investigation, confirmed that the images depicted sadistic sexual acts involving children as young as eight, and suggested that these images might have been automatically transferred via Henderson’s WhatsApp account.
The court also heard about the private photograph of Henderson’s girlfriend, taken during a stay at the Citizen M Hotel in Glasgow. She testified that she was unaware of the photo until detectives showed it to her months later. She described feeling “sick,” “betrayed,” and “upset,” and confirmed that they were no longer a couple.
In police interviews, Henderson expressed remorse, stating, “She means the world to me. I’ve just put her through s**t and feel really bad. I’ve let her down. I’ve let my family down. I want to tell everything but I can’t.”
Furthermore, the jury found that two allegations of drunken sexual assaults at the officer’s mess in Boddam were not proven, and Henderson was cleared of another charge related to indecent images at his home in Strichen. Despite these acquittals, Henderson remains on the sex offenders register and has been suspended from his roles in both the police force and the Army Cadet Force. It is understood that he has recently resigned from the police service and will soon be dismissed from the cadets by military authorities. Police Scotland declined to comment further on the case.