GLASGOW PAEDOPHILES ROBERT MCDERMITT IAIN KIDD AND FILLIP HANNISDAL ESCAPE JAIL IN SHOCKING CASE
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Glasgow community, three men accused of possessing and distributing indecent images of children have been released back into society after avoiding imprisonment.Over a span of several years, Robert McDermitt, Iain Kidd, and Fillip Hannisdal engaged in the collection and creation of highly illegal and disturbing material involving minors.
Their actions included not only downloading and storing such images but also taking or allowing others to take lewd photographs of children, further compounding the severity of their crimes.
Adding to their heinous offenses, the men possessed extreme pornography that depicted sexual acts involving animals, a category of material that is both illegal and morally reprehensible.
Despite the gravity of their offenses, the Glasgow Sheriff Court opted to impose community-based disposals on all three men last week, emphasizing rehabilitation over incarceration.
Robert McDermitt, aged 61, from Albany Avenue in Springboig, was found to have committed his crimes between 2008 and 2017.
It was noted that he was battling prostate cancer at the time of sentencing and would need to undergo ongoing medical treatment.
His case drew particular attention due to his health condition, but the court still recognized the seriousness of his offenses.
Iain Kidd, 30, of Inkerman Road in Hillington, was responsible for his crimes spanning from 2005 to 2017.
He acknowledged the severity of the charges against him, which included possessing hundreds of illegal images of children and explicit material involving animals.
Kidd’s long history of offending was highlighted during the proceedings, and he was identified as a business partner in an internet enterprise.
Fillip Hannisdal, aged 31, from Gunn Quadrant in Bellshill, was involved in similar criminal activity from 2014 to 2017.
A forensic investigation conducted by cyber experts uncovered that both Kidd and Hannisdal each possessed hundreds of illegal images, including those depicting bestiality.
The search of their residence revealed that Kidd had nearly 984 still images, 496 videos, and 7,689 extreme pornography pictures.
Hannisdal’s collection included 170 still images, 50 videos, and 163 images involving sexual acts with animals.
The court heard that both men were co-owners of Dragonbyte Technologies Ltd, a software company described on their website as “The leading provider of vBulletin software addons since 2010.” At the time of their offenses, both men resided at the same address with Kidd’s parents and partner.
The police investigation was initiated after credible evidence emerged in August 2017 indicating that the accused were downloading and sharing indecent images from their home.
Following the search, police seized various computer equipment and hard drives from Kidd and Hannisdal’s rooms for examination.
Both men refused to comment when questioned and gave no response during police interviews.
The evidence presented in court demonstrated the disturbing extent of their illegal collections, with images classified from Category A—the most serious—to Category C.
In sentencing, Sheriff Peter McCormack ordered all three men to complete a three-year Community Payback Order with supervision, serving as an alternative to imprisonment.
They were also subjected to a Restriction of Liberty Order, which mandated that they remain at home between 7 pm and 7 am for six months.
Additionally, they were placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years, with strict prohibitions against unsupervised contact with children under 16.
Furthermore, the men were required to participate in the Moving Forward Making Changes behavioral programme, designed to provide treatment and support for individuals convicted of sexual offenses or offenses with a sexual element.
As part of their restrictions on online activity, Kidd and Hannisdal were banned from using the Firefox web browser and ordered to make their internet history available immediately upon request.
They were also prohibited from installing software that could delete files and from using devices that access the internet unless they retain and provide their web browsing history.
These rulings mark a significant decision by the court, prioritizing community safety and rehabilitation, but also raising questions about the adequacy of such measures for offenders involved in such grave crimes.
