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Original poster

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

156 replies

Sistery · 13/07/2020 16:37

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 Sad. 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.

OP posts:
wherestheotherone · 13/07/2020 18:11

Ignore my comment. I know from a professional point of view I can find out about court cases but never tried as an individual.

SoulofanAggron · 13/07/2020 18:13

@Sistery I don't know if this is any use, when you think he's probably definitely been sentenced you could try www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/child-safety/#:~:text=The%20Community%20Disclosure%20Scheme%20is,visit%20the%20Scottish%20Government%20website.

If your children are minors then you have a legitimate interest in knowing if he's a sex offender, so as to protect your children from potentially seeing him in future when he's a risk to children. (I know that isn't your motivation but you could give it as a motivation for why you want to know, if you apply.)

Snowpatrolling · 13/07/2020 18:14

A family member of mine for done for child and animal abuse images.
The local rag got wind of it and the outcome was printed in the local paper
All I need to do is google his name and town he’s from and it pops up.
Maybe try that way op?
And for the record he pleaded guilty and got 100 hours of community service and a 2 year suspended sentence.
Didn’t even go in the register as was his first crime and the judge described him as an upstanding member of the community!!!
Fucking idiot!

Bluntness100 · 13/07/2020 18:15

The other thing you can do op is contact a criminal solicitor local to the court and pay them for half an hour to advise you on how to get it. You might even get it for free, but as there is no further action maybe not
Half an hour would be enough for them to tell you how to obtain the info.

L0bstersLass · 13/07/2020 18:15

Try putting his name or the court's name in Twitter and searching. Local court proceedings are sometimes covered on Twitter by journalists in court.

jessstan2 · 13/07/2020 18:20

I am so sorry, Sistery, this is an awful thing to happen in your family.

You could write to your brother and ask him to tell you everything, once he has been sentenced, if you really feel it is important for you to know. He might not tell you, on the other hand he may feel he owes it to you in view of your past cordial relationship so worth a try. You cannot judge for yourself unless you have the facts and it doesn't sound as though any other family member will tell you much.

I do understand why details of such offences are kept confidential and think that is right. It protects the victims and also the rest of your family who won't want everyone knowing; however, things do get out regardless.

How old is your brother if you don't mind me asking?

I hate the internet sometimes, everything is so easily available. It's sickening! I can imagine a young person - a school kid - looking just out of curiosity and then wanting to look again. It gives me the shivers just to contemplate that.

Things will get better for you but at the moment it is a heavy burden.

SunshineCake · 13/07/2020 18:21

I am going to PM you, *@Sistery.

Bluntness100 · 13/07/2020 18:26

I can imagine a young person - a school kid - looking just out of curiosity and then wanting to look again

That’s a massive derail and is clearly not the issue here. And in all my years I’ve never come across this, it’s not readily available, the over whelming majority of people will not have stumbled across something like this. It’s hidden. Because it’s criminal

2bazookas · 13/07/2020 18:28

From someone else's link you've identified the location of the court.

Do you know if he lived in that area and committed the offence there? If so it's likely to be reported in a local newspaper.

Scotland has several small local weekly newspapers , I suggest you try to find out if there's one that covers that court and may report on the case.

Some of the little local papers have websites and you can pay to read them online. They don't have many journalists so if you've identified a local paper it might be worth contacting their editor.

Gingerkittykat · 13/07/2020 18:31

@orangesandapplesandpearsohmy

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'm afraid jail for a first time offender with child abuse images is rare. There are loads of cases reported in my local paper and most get a fine and/or community service.

Here are the sentencing guidelines, they are on page 85.

2bazookas · 13/07/2020 18:33

OP, you can try a search in google using a word string

( name, name, charged with abuse)
(name, name appeared in court name)
(name, name, town, arrested )

Might turn up local press reports.

thisiseveryonesbusiness · 13/07/2020 18:44

I am shocked at people saying it is none of OP's business. This is everyone's business. Sexual exploitation of children is driven by money, and creating the latest "unseen" and the latest thing is live streaming of abuse. This is for the vast number of men in the UK and elsewhere, of every background, who want to access it. This is everyone's business, because it is the people viewing it who are driving the industry. I bet each of the them knows people who are still doing it, as yet not caught - OP I would talk to him about it, find out why, find out who amongst his social circle is doing it. It is huge and I am pretty sure we all know men who are doing it, as yet not caught.

slashlover · 13/07/2020 18:48

Could you search his name on facebook to see if anyone is talking about it? I've searched someone from my school who I know was found guilty and there are several posts of people talking about it from the time and stating the sentence.

GuiltyBark · 13/07/2020 19:01

Not sure where the trial is up to but if he has been sentenced with a jail term then he will have been transferred to prison instantly and you can find out where he is via the Find a Prisoner service (easy to find on google)

Then you can write to him - whether he'll respond is something else but worth a try. My little brother ended up in jail and it's really difficult (not the same crime but was violent) - the family humiliation and shock, disgust... and shaking off the image of them as the sweet cheerful little boy/happy teen or whatever and realising you didn't know them at all, it's really disturbing. I understand. Hope you can get some answers.

Bluemoooon · 13/07/2020 19:02

Our local paper in Scotland has an 'In the courts' section every week - I think the paper is under the Daily Record website but not sure everything is online. Can someone mail you a copy for a few weeks?

Thinkingabout1t · 13/07/2020 19:06

I haven't any useful information to give, but I feel deeply for you, Sistery.

I have horrible memories of CSA and I would never forgive a paedophile. But if someone I loved had done this, I know a part of me would be agonisingly conflicted and wanting to believe it wasn't true.

You are being very brave and principled in taking the stand you have taken. Losing his sister's love may be more of a punishment to him than a trivial fine or jail sentence. That might deter him from offending again and harming more children.

I hope you are able to get some closure. Flowers

DreamsOfWaves · 13/07/2020 19:15

It’s a long shot OP but do you have a local crime newspaper in your area? There is The Digger in Glasgow. Its ‘journalists’ (term used in the widest possible context) often report on such offences even when the cases haven’t been reported by the mainstream media. I’m sorry that you are having to deal with this.

back2good · 13/07/2020 19:22

Sexual offenders should be a matter of public record. This is not what GDPR rules were meant to protect people from.

Newschapter · 13/07/2020 19:25

@Sistery - I'm so sorry to read this, I'm sure you're devastated.

Just wanted to say, I work for a paper (not Scotland I am afraid) and cover the local magistrates court.

If someone rang our office and asked for information we'd pass on what we knew. (But a reporter would need to be in court and in current times that's not happening)

I can only speak for me and my colleagues but if you explained to me I'd happily call court services and ask questions. (Each case will have a number journalists will have access to and we ask for the outcome of the appearance, so it's maybe worth a call to the paper local to your brother)

Sunnydayshereatlast · 13/07/2020 19:29

Have your family accepted they won't see you or your dc?

Newschapter · 13/07/2020 19:32

@back2good

Sexual offenders should be a matter of public record. This is not what GDPR rules were meant to protect people from.
I'd have to agree
icedaisy · 13/07/2020 19:33

@Sistery I gave you advice on your first post in legal re the process, if you want to pm me I will see what I can find out. Need to know court. Thanks.

Onedistraughtdm · 13/07/2020 19:33

Nc for this.. My ds is a sex offender. Have had no contact since the day I reported him and the police took him away. Saw him in court as I went for his sentencing.. Walking away was heart ripping but there was no other option imo . Your dps are very weak op. Take strength in that you were able to acknowledge what he has done and are taking the necessary steps to protect your dc.
Best regards - I totally feel for you.

Saladd0dger · 13/07/2020 19:37

Have you checked the ukdatabase op? It might get posted on there after court

Haworthia · 13/07/2020 19:37

When this happened to someone I knew, it hit the local papers, including online. You could do worse than Googling his name and home town over the next few days to see if it’s been covered.