Moray man who downloaded child abuse images escapes jail sentence
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A RETIRED serviceman and former support worker from Moray who downloaded child abuse images escaped a jail sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court.
John Donaghey (62) of Commerce Street in Lossiemouth appeared before Sheriff Ian Cruickshank for sentence after admitting having 44 images, eight of which were of the most obscene kind, on his laptop.
He was ordered to take part in a sex offender's rehabilitation programme, remain under social work supervision and on the Sex Offender's Register for two years. He was also to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work. Sheriff Cruickshank said it was an alternative to a custodial sentence.
The court had previously heard that Police Scotland's Child Abuse Unit investigation led to officers raiding his home.
The search was carried out on July 6 last year with the material largely of girls aged between five years of age and 16.
Fiscal depute David Morton told the court that the images involved sexual activity, non-sexual activity and erotic posing. They had been downloaded between December 23, 2018 and July 6, 2021.
Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank said: "He resigned from his support worker role when this offence came to light. He has not sat back and has sought support himself."
