Sex offender caught with vile image hoard avoids prison term – The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter

A DUMBARTON man was caught with a stash of indecent images of children at his former home in Cardross.

Declan Deeney, of Old Academy Way, admitted to a charge of taking, or permitting to be taken, indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children at a property in Barrs Terrace between December 28, 2020 and February 23 the following year.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a second charge of being in possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children from December 28, 2020 and March 25, 2021.

Appearing for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on July 12 the 20-year-old was placed on the sex offenders register for three years after pleading guilty to the two charges.

Phil Lafferty, defending, said: Clearly these are worrying offences. The background history is of some concern. I have to accept that he is aware of the matters and aware of the wrongfulness of his behaviour, and therefore responsible to that extent.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: Reading this report there must be some concern as to how Mr Deeney can be managed by the social work department given the difficulties that he has although I dont think he assists his difficulties by smoking cannabis.

Addressing the young man, Sheriff Hendry said: The offences which you committed are serious. Some people think these are offences where effectively there are no victims. I do not take that view at all.

It is difficult to tell what lifelong damage may be done to those children. This is not a victimless crime. I take onboard this is your first conviction and you have done some things already to help yourself, although I think there is a distance to go before there can be any positive expectation that you will continue to commit these crimes. I could have sent you to prison, but I am not doing that.

The sheriff placed Deeney on a community payback order for three years under social work supervision where he will be required to follow 10 requirements as part of the order which were disclosed to Deeney by his solicitor in a private discussion.

He was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for three years, barring him from any contact with any person under 16, and from entering any public parks, play areas, schools, nurseries or any other setting where children are expected to gather.

Deeney must remain in his home address from 7pm-7am for six months.

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Sex offender caught with vile image hoard avoids prison term - The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter