How can I find out what happened in court? (Trigger re indecent images)

[Sistery]

Changed my name as this is totally outing if any of the few people I’ve told read it. I’ve talked about this on here before though and been on here for years and years.

My brother is in court in Scotland today charged with crimes related to child sexual abuse images. Arrested last July, pleading guilty, don’t know what the specific charges are but get the hint it’s as bad as it can possibly be. The only family that know are supporting him and refuse to tell me anything about it.

Unless it hits the local press (not sure if it will due to Coronavirus) how can I find out what the outcome was today? I’m hundreds of miles away. When I asked a similar question about what turned out to be a pre hearing appearance a lot of people on here said I needed to mind my own business etc. I appreciate some people think that but I just need to know . This is my little brother whom I loved and thought was a good person and friend. I can never see him again but I need to know the details for my own understanding and closure. And - frankly - so I can defend my decision against the family members intent on minimising this who will try to manipulate him back into my life in the future. They don’t even know I know the hearing is today.

Pp I'm saying that if he pleased not guilty op may have felt the need to tell the police what he relayed to her. THAT would have potentially led to her being a witness. But as he pleaded guilty there was no need.

Where does it say he admitted it to her?

Bunnymumy This is my line of work. I have reported these offences to the pf on many occasions.

He didn't really relay anything to me, just told me what the police had found. Being in possession of stuff is quite hard to plead not guilty to I guess.

@Bunnymumy but that's completely irrelevant! OP stated in her first post that her brother is pleading guilty. You've just executed a massive, stressful derail of a post that is obviously very sensitive and upsetting because you couldn't be bothered to read properly before going on a paedophilia apology tangent and then backtracking when people called you out on it.

Sorry maybe you didnt see, OP mentions in one of her replies to me that he told her and another person what he did.

Sorry sistery, had a look through and nothing is jumping out from the cases from today that I can see.

I'm in a, frightening, similar situation OP.
Brother was in court today for similar.
Although I do know some of the outcome.

As far as I know you won't be able to find anything without their permission. I also made a similar thread when he was arrested.

It's a tough situation to be on the other side of.
Personally, for me I will not see my brother again. I have a young child and anyone who has a question mark above their heads is a no go . It's so awfully sad though as you just think about all the times you had together being normal brother and sister.

Bunnymumy She would still not be needed as a witness. Take my word for it.

These offences are fairly easy to investigate and don’t generally require the police to approach family at a later date to see what he said to them.

To the posters who have been through this, my heart goes out to you.

Have you looked at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation website? It looks like a good place to learn more about your feelings and understand them.

admitted guilt to me and later divulged to someone else I know.

Sorry right enough I'm not sure admitting his guilt to you would have been enough to make you a witness right enough. Maybe?

Appologies for derailing.

Bunnymumy She would not be a witness. Just stop!

@Bunnymumy i did see, but it was irrelevant, because she stated in her very first post that he was pleading guilty!

Allright chill your beans

It'll get in the local paper if he gets sentenced for that, he'll get jail time. Not enough jail time unfortunately as no jail time would be enough for a paedophile.
Bar finding out from a family member I'm not sure you'll find out the details but if it's all on his computer then it won't be like he's getting away with it so you'll find out what he's getting very soon.

I know! I said it was irrelevant. You're the one that kept bringing it up!

My BIL was in court with a similar charge - no one would tell me anything. We assume he was found guilty as the local social services team got in touch to ensure we were keeping our son away from him. Even the social worker wouldn't tell me why I had to keep DS away from him though. Total radio silence from everyone

If you can't contact the court and you don't get any joy from ringing the court directly, call a local solicitor's firm in the relevant part of Scotland and ask them to help you. You might have to pay them a small fee but they will know their way around the system

Just a thought pp but check the morning newspapers first thing tomorrow. The press may cover it briefly if he was sentenced.

OP it may be worth following the local paper on Facebook. We quite often get updates/ ‘stories’ from them on this kind of thing from our sheriff court (West Lothian).

I’m sorry for what you’re going through.

@Bunnymumy in future, when you're commenting on posts like this where the topic is sensitive and distressing, please make sure you read the OP thoroughly and actually understand what it says before responding. Your opening comment was unnecessarily combative and caused a huge derail. Please, try to pay more attention and give your words a little more thought in future.

Also the local pages on the BBC website sometimes cover these things. Ie go to Uk news > Scotland > Tayside etc.

@Sistery
@BertieDrapper How shit. You hear of these things it must be awful when it is your family menber.

It'll appear in the local papers. Had a similar situation with a friend's son a few years ago, it took a week before it turned up in the local paper, but it did. Grim. I'm sorry - it's a weird thing, messes with your head quite a lot.

The court won't tell you anything until he's convicted and sentenced or found not guilty. If he's only just made his plea and it's not guilty then it will go to trial by jury. Once the case has been heard you can then find out the outcome either through the court or via the media.

Christ, it is worrying the number of people just on here who know men who are guilty of child abuse. Really worrying.