PORT TALBOT PAEDOPHILE WILLIAM (ANDY) MCKECHNIE SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In May 2014, a disturbing case emerged from Port Talbot involving William (Andy) McKechnie, a man who publicly admitted to being a paedophile and expressed a desire to cease his harmful behaviors. His own words, "I’m a paedophile and I need to stop," underscored the gravity of his actions, which ultimately led to his conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.

McKechnie was found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences, including the filming of himself sexually assaulting young children. He also engaged in the disturbing act of editing images of children he had downloaded, inserting himself into photographs depicting children engaged in sexual acts. These actions revealed a deeply disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned a significant period.

One of the most serious charges involved the sexual assault of a four-year-old girl, which McKechnie admitted to by penetration. The victim’s family and community were left devastated by the revelations, which highlighted the extent of his offending. Following reports from his victims, police conducted a thorough search of McKechnie’s residence on Western Avenue in Port Talbot. During the search, authorities discovered a disturbing collection of digital evidence, including 11 computers, multiple hard drives, and tablets. These devices contained a staggering 21,939 indecent images, further illustrating the scale of his criminal activities.

In his police interview, McKechnie expressed remorse, stating, “I can’t explain why I have done what I have done. I can’t deny it. I am extremely sorry.” Despite his apologies, he faced numerous charges, including over 30 counts of making and possessing indecent images of children, voyeurism, and sexual and indecent assault on minors. His actions not only caused immense harm to his victims but also shattered relationships and lives within his community.

Representing McKechnie, Robin Rouch acknowledged that modern technology facilitated his access to illegal material and contributed to the escalation of his offending. Rouch emphasized the lasting impact of McKechnie’s actions, stating, “He has destroyed a number of lives and relationships and that’s something he will have to deal with for the rest of his life.”

The mother of one of McKechnie’s young victims described him as “twisted,” reflecting the community’s outrage and horror at his crimes. Judge Keith Thomas, presiding over the case, condemned McKechnie’s conduct as an “appalling catalogue of sexual offences,” and highlighted that his actions were driven by a need to satisfy his sexual urges. The judge sentenced McKechnie to a total of 10 years and 8 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Earlier in February 2014, McKechnie had already admitted to sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl by penetration. At that time, he pleaded guilty to assaulting the child and possessing 15 indecent images of children, along with 11 charges related to taking indecent images. Prosecutor Brian Simpson requested that sentencing be delayed until further charges were addressed, citing the seriousness of the case. Robin Rouch, representing McKechnie, acknowledged the gravity of the charges and requested that sentencing be postponed until the outcome of additional proceedings was known. Judge Paul Thomas QC agreed, remanding McKechnie in custody until all charges could be considered, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing legal process.