GALASHIELS MAN WILLIAM BAIRD AND ROBERT GRIFFITHS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Galashiels, William Baird, aged 39, has been sentenced to ten months in prison after being found in possession of nearly 20,000 indecent images and videos depicting children. The offences were committed at his residence on Knoll Park Drive and other locations within the town, spanning a period from March 2016 to November 2021.

During a court hearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court, it was revealed that police officers, upon confronting Baird at his home in Melrose Gait, were met with a stark admission: "I’ve f***ed up." The authorities discovered an alarming collection of digital material across nine different devices, which included over 3,000 images classified as Category A, the most severe classification for such material. The court was informed that the children depicted ranged in age from infants to 15 years old, highlighting the grave nature of the offences.

William Baird’s solicitor, Ed Hulme, emphasized that his client was a first-time offender and expressed that Baird was seeking help for his problematic behavior. Hulme also noted that Baird had been employed full-time until recently, resigning just last week ahead of an impending disciplinary hearing. Despite these mitigating factors, Sheriff Peter Paterson underscored the severity of the case, stating that the sheer volume of illicit material left him with no choice but to impose a custodial sentence.

In a separate case, Robert Griffiths, aged 57, also from Galashiels, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register after engaging in inappropriate online communications with individuals he believed to be 14-year-old girls. The court heard that Griffiths, who resides in Gala Park Court, was apprehended in August 2021 following an investigation by online vigilantes, often referred to as paedo hunters. These individuals shared details of explicit conversations with police, leading to Griffiths’s arrest.

The court described the nature of the chats as highly graphic and disturbing. Among the messages, Griffiths asked one girl for a nude photograph of her chest, requested details about another girl’s underwear, and encouraged her to search for adult films on the internet. He also expressed a desire to sleep in the bed of a third girl, further demonstrating his inappropriate intentions.

It was noted that Griffiths, who faces various health issues, claimed to be going through a difficult period in his life. His sentencing was deferred until next month to allow for the preparation of background reports, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the seriousness of his actions.