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.

I meant 'roles' not 'rules'.

Could you make a request to the police under Sarah's Law? Apologies, I don't know if this applies to Scotland, but I know in England you can enquire if someone who might have access to your children because of a relationships is on the sex offenders register. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

@5tressed I’m very sorry you’re in a similar situation but I’m also weirdly relieved to hear what you said about the Stop it Now forum. I went on hoping for support from people heartbroken by finding out their loved one is capable of this and instead just found so many posts defending and excusing the perpetrators. I do understand a lot of it must be denial and also if you choose to stay with someone who has done this, maybe to live your life you have to convince yourself it isn’t as bad as it really is. But even the lingo - ‘the knock’ for when the police arrived, ‘IIOC’ for the crime (which felt like distancing again) just made me feel like I’d stepped into a world where this was somewhat normalised and it made me so uncomfortable and also very alone and alien in my views.

The court clerk thing is interesting as this information is sort of in the public domain so I’m not convinced it would be illegal. It’s not like accessing a police database or medical records. When I was a juror, I phoned up after sentencing (which was deferred for reports) to ask what the sentence was and got told. It was also reported in the paper - as my brother’s case may be. I just don’t know if it’s the same in Scotland. Though of course I don’t want the PP to contact his/her friend.

thisiseveryonesbusiness Sorry, I missed your question. To be honest the short answer is I don’t know. I haven’t heard of any campaigning of government for tougher sentences but that’s not to say no one has tried.

I really feel for you OP, it’s such a horrible time you must be going through...

How did you get on with finding out OP?

Not as serious, but a neighbour's son has been on the court rolls and I would like to know what his appearance in court has been for. Is there any way of finding out??

There was someone at his mum's door recently talking about 'curfew 7pm to 7am' and 'tagged' was mentioned. He looked like he may be from a security services company. Whoever tags individuals.