STENHOUSEMUIR MAN STEPHEN DOW PLEADS GUILTY TO DOWNLOADS OF 11,000 INDECENT IMAGES OF YOUNG GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the community of Stenhousemuir, Stephen Dow, a 43-year-old forklift truck driver, has admitted to the possession and download of nearly 11,000 indecent images depicting young girls. The incident came to light after police investigations revealed the extent of his online activities, which involved the use of software that ultimately failed to fully delete the illicit material from his computer.

According to court reports, authorities were alerted to Dow’s residence in Muir Street, Stenhousemuir, following a tip-off that prompted a police raid on June 3, 2014. During the forensic analysis of his computer’s hard drive, investigators uncovered a disturbing collection of images. Over 4,700 of these images were found in the recycle bin, indicating they had been deleted but were recoverable through specialized police software. An additional 6,050 images had been removed from the downloads folder but remained on the system, hidden from the user’s view, yet also recoverable.

Prosecutor Alison Montgomery detailed that the images depicted girls aged between seven and 14 years old. She emphasized that more than 99 percent of these images were classified as “level one” on a standard depravity scale. This classification indicates that the images showed children in provocative poses without any sexual activity, representing the least severe category of such material. The images’ presence on Dow’s computer was a clear violation of laws concerning child exploitation and indecency.

The police seized Dow’s computer during their investigation, which was initiated after the tip-off. The forensic analysis revealed that the images had been downloaded between January 10 and February 15, 2014, with the last access recorded on February 25. The police raid occurred several months later, on June 3, 2014. Dow, who is married and has no children, admitted to the charges of downloading child abuse images in a court hearing.

During the proceedings, Dow’s solicitor, Willie McIntyre, acknowledged the gravity of the offense but sought to provide context. He stated, “There’s no excuse for doing this sort of thing, and he knows it.” McIntyre explained that Dow was under considerable stress at the time of the downloads. He further elaborated that Dow believed he had successfully deleted the images, but the software he used was ineffective, and the files were only recovered later through police forensic tools. McIntyre emphasized that Dow was deeply ashamed of his actions and expressed concern about the potential impact on his employment, which involves working in a large warehouse. He feared that media publicity might jeopardize his job.

Judge Craig Caldwell deferred sentencing until June 18, pending social background reports, and released Dow on bail. The court also ordered that Dow’s name be entered onto the sex offenders’ register, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring and public safety measures.