EDINBURGH MAN RYAN O’DONNELL SENTENCED FOR EXPLOSIVES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

A resident of Edinburgh, Ryan O’Donnell, has been handed a substantial prison sentence after being convicted of serious offenses related to explosives and the possession of indecent images of children. The sentencing took place on Wednesday, 12 February, 2025, at the High Court in Edinburgh, where the court heard detailed accounts of the evidence and the circumstances surrounding his crimes.

During the investigation, authorities discovered a variety of dangerous substances at O’Donnell’s Edinburgh home, including mixed powders such as potassium nitrate, which is commonly used in explosive devices. Alongside these powders, law enforcement officials found equipment that could be utilized to manufacture homemade explosives, raising significant concerns about potential harm to the public. The police also uncovered paraphernalia and information that suggested O’Donnell was involved in the hobby of making fireworks, but the manner in which he stored these materials posed a serious risk of accidental detonation and injury.

In addition to the explosive-related charges, O’Donnell was found to be in possession of nearly 1,500 images depicting children in indecent and exploitative situations. These images, stored on electronic devices seized during searches of his residence, included both accessible and deleted files. The accessible images comprised a disturbing collection, with some being computer-generated, but the majority depicting real children. The images fell into various categories, with 20 classified as Category A, 23 as Category B, and 304 as Category C, according to the severity of the content. Some images had been deleted, possibly to conceal their existence, but the evidence was sufficient to establish guilt.

Detective Sergeant Jordan Sharp emphasized the danger posed by O’Donnell’s activities, stating, “The substances O’Donnell possessed were dangerous and could have caused serious harm if they had been used. The unlicensed manufacturing of homemade explosives is illegal, irrespective of the intention, and places the public at risk. He will also face the consequences of his actions for possessing indecent images of children. Sexual exploitation is despicable, and we remain committed to protecting children.”

At the High Court, Lady Poole delivered the sentence, which reflected the gravity of the offenses. Ryan O’Donnell, aged 37, was sentenced to a total of 44 months in prison. The court also imposed a 12-month supervised release order and mandated that he register as a sex offender for ten years under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The judge highlighted that O’Donnell had pleaded guilty to all charges, which contributed to the reduction of his sentence.

Lady Poole stated, “On 13 January 2025, you pled guilty to three serious offenses at the High Court in Edinburgh. A search of your residence, including a flat and garage, uncovered significant quantities of explosive substances stored in various containers. The evidence suggested you were making fireworks as a hobby, but your storage methods and the substances themselves posed a substantial risk of harm to others and property, constituting an offense under section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Additionally, you admitted to taking, permitting, or making indecent images of children, with evidence of images on three electronic devices. These images included children under 14, some as young as six, with a mixture of accessible and deleted files, some computer-generated. The images included 20 Category A, 23 Category B, and 1145 Category C images, with 304 accessible. Your previous convictions, spanning nearly two decades, include serious offenses such as assault causing severe injury, firearms offenses, threatening behavior, and attempted arson. Notably, one of your past convictions involved possessing indecent images of children.

The court considered a social work report, which indicated that while you had no intent to cause harm with the explosives, your reckless behavior could have resulted in serious injury or death. Regarding the child images, the report noted the potential for indirect harm to children and assessed you as a medium risk for reoffending sexually. The judge acknowledged your personal circumstances, including educational achievements, mental health issues, alcohol misuse, and progress made while in custody. Despite these mitigating factors, the seriousness of your crimes necessitated a custodial sentence.

In conclusion, the court sentenced you to 20 months for the indecent images, reduced from 30 months due to your guilty plea, and a consecutive term of 24 months for the explosives offenses, reduced from three years. Additionally, a supervised release order will be in effect for 12 months post-release, requiring you to report regularly to a supervising officer and adhere to specified conditions. Failure to comply could result in re-imprisonment. Your sentence is backdated to 22 April 2024, when you were first remanded in custody. Furthermore, as part of your sentence, you are subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for ten years, and your name has been reported to the Scottish Ministers, indicating your status as a person deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.