THOMAS HIGHET AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN AYRSHIRE

A man identified as Thomas Highet has been sentenced to over three years in prison after being found guilty of collecting a disturbing collection of images that depict child abuse and acts of human torture. The case has drawn significant concern due to the nature of the offences and the circumstances under which they occurred.

Highet, who resides in Ayrshire, was also involved in an incident where he attempted to import a child sex doll into the United Kingdom. However, prosecutors accepted a plea of not guilty regarding this particular charge as part of a negotiated deal. Despite this, the court found him guilty of multiple serious offences related to child exploitation.

The court heard that Highet, aged 66, was placed on the sex offender register for a period of ten years and was subjected to a five-year sexual offences prevention order following his admission to downloading and possessing illegal images at his residence on Townhead Street, Stevenston, Ayrshire. The judge emphasized the gravity of his actions, especially considering that Highet was already under a court order at the time of the offences.

In court documents, it was revealed that Highet pleaded guilty to taking, permitting to be taken, or making indecent images depicting child abuse between May 23, 2021, and June 19, 2022. He also admitted to possessing these images at his home during the same period, extending to June 23, 2022. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to a third charge involving possession of extreme images, which included depictions of torture and mutilation of a human being, between January 18 and June 23, 2022.

At the time of the sentencing, Highet was described as a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, having previously been remanded in custody. When he appeared in court on Monday, November 6, his defense solicitor, Brian Holliman, stated that there was little else to say on Highet’s behalf, acknowledging the seriousness of the offences and Highet’s acceptance of responsibility.

The presiding sheriff, Colin Bissett, expressed deep concern over the case, highlighting that Highet committed these offences while under a court order intended to prevent such conduct. The sheriff remarked on the troubling lack of understanding from Highet regarding the wrongfulness of his actions, describing the situation as “somewhat depressing.”

Highet was sentenced to a total of 40 months in prison, with the sentence backdated to his remand date of January 12. As part of his post-release restrictions, he is now subject to a five-year sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits any contact with children under 16, bans him from public parks and leisure centres, and requires him to inform monitoring officers of any electronic devices capable of internet access. He is also mandated to provide passwords, refrain from deleting browsing history, calls, or messages, and not to download software that could conceal his online activity.

Furthermore, Highet will continue to be subject to police notification requirements as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing monitoring necessary to protect the community in Ayrshire.