ROBIN MACPHERSON SHOCKS ILLFRACOMBE WITH CHILD SEX IMAGES FOUND ON REPAIRED LAPTOP

In May 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded in North Devon that drew the attention of local authorities and the community alike. The case involved Robin MacPherson, a resident of Chichester Close in Ilfracombe, whose personal laptop became the focus of a criminal investigation after a routine computer repair revealed deeply troubling content.

MacPherson had taken his malfunctioning laptop to a local computer repair shop in Ilfracombe, seeking assistance to fix the device. Once technicians managed to get the laptop operational, they noticed an unsettling image displayed as the screensaver. The image depicted a young girl, approximately 13 years old, in a sexualized context, which immediately raised alarm among the staff. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the technicians promptly contacted law enforcement authorities to investigate further.

Following the police investigation, experts recovered a significant collection of indecent images from MacPherson’s device. The digital evidence included over 1,300 images of children engaged in sexual activities, with 38 classified as involving very serious abuse. Additionally, the authorities uncovered two images depicting women involved in sexual acts with a horse, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material stored on his computer.

Robin MacPherson, aged 61, faced serious charges in connection with these findings. He admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of creating an extreme pornographic image. His court appearance took place at Exeter Crown Court, where Judge Graham Cottle presided over the case.

During the proceedings, the judge sentenced MacPherson to nine months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period. Additionally, MacPherson was ordered to attend a specialized internet sex offender’s treatment program, aimed at addressing his deviant interests. The court also mandated that he register as a sex offender and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which grants authorities ongoing oversight of his internet activity to prevent future offenses.

Judge Cottle emphasized the gravity of the evidence, stating, “The evidence shows you have a deviant interest in images of young children. Your efforts to deny that will fall on stony ground in the course of the treatment programme. If you continue to maintain your denials and are uncooperative, you will come back here and will go to prison.”

Prosecutor Caroline Bolt detailed the extent of the illegal material found on MacPherson’s computer, revealing that it contained 38 images classified as the most serious Category A, 62 images at Category B, and a staggering 1,215 images at the lowest level, Category C. She explained that the discovery was made after the repair shop examined the device and found the screensaver displaying the Category 3 image of the young girl. The staff at the repair centre were understandably distressed by the content and, upon confirming it was not a technical malfunction, contacted the police. MacPherson claimed he did not view such material, a statement met with skepticism by the authorities.

In his defense, lawyer Emily Cook urged the court to consider a probation report that recommended MacPherson be enrolled in a treatment program. The report suggested that, despite his continued denial of any sexual interest in children, he was suitable for intervention aimed at addressing his behavior. The judge ultimately took into account the seriousness of the case and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community from potential harm.