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Press and Journal
6 days ago
- Press and Journal
Abusive Aberdeen man hid secret spy camera in ex-girlfriend's bedroom
An Aberdeen man who installed a hidden camera in his ex-partner's bedroom as part of a sinister campaign of domestic abuse has avoided jail. Daniel Anderson, 28, used the camera to spy on the woman and eavesdrop on her conversations, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told. On another occasion, he sneaked into her home when she was out and was discovered lurking in her bathroom. The woman had tried to end the relationship 'repeatedly', however, Anderson would use emotional blackmail, threatening to kill himself, if she broke up. Fiscal depute Emma Peterson told the court that when the pair were together, Anderson had assaulted the woman by pushing her to the ground with a slap. Miss Peterson described how the woman had found her front door open on another occasion. 'She thought her mind was playing tricks on her,' the fiscal depute said. 'She then checked the bathroom in passing and saw a dark shadowy figure standing in the doorway. 'This caused her to scream. 'She challenged the accused as to why he was there. 'Accused stated the door was open and began arguing with the complainer about parts of her phone call with her male friend that he had overheard.' The spy camera was discovered later that day, after Anderson disclosed information that he could only have known if he was secretly monitoring her. Miss Petersen said that evening the woman had been on another phone call discussing takeaway food. She said: 'The accused sent a text message to the complainer which read, 'enjoy your Chinese'. 'The complainer went to reply, but on opening the conversation page, the message now read 'this message has been deleted'. 'The complainer asked the accused, 'what Chinese?' and the accused stated that he did not know what she was talking about. 'Due to the fear that the accused was somehow watching her, the complainer contacted police and asked them to re-attend. 'Constables searched the locus and found a small black camera hidden in a black trainer in the complainer's bedroom, pointing directly at her bed.' Officers later found packaging for the camera at Anderson's address. Speaking on behalf of Anderson, solicitor Iain McGregor said his client was remorseful, adding: 'The complainer would have been terrified – it was quite sinister. 'The person standing in the dock today is not the same person who carried out these offences.' Anderson, of Formartine Road, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to one charge of domestic abuse over a three-year period, involving controlling behaviour, pushing her to the ground with his open hand, entering her house uninvited and placing a hidden camera in her bedroom. Sheriff Graham Buchanan said it was to Anderson's 'credit' that he had accepted his behaviour was 'quite disgraceful'. He said: 'Normally, there is some victim blaming – but you have not done that. You have accepted responsibility.' He placed Anderson under a Community Payback Order with two years' supervision and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months. 'This is a direct alternative to custody,' Sheriff Buchanan said. 'Be in no doubt, if you fail to cooperate, then you will be brought back to court and there is a strong possibility that the order would be revoked, and you will receive a prison sentence. 'Make sure that you cooperate to the full.'
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Elgin man caught with images of children being 'brutalised'
A man who claimed he accidentally accessed indecent images despite a search history to the contrary has been told he 'destroyed' children's lives for 'entertainment'. Adam Betteridge claimed he clicked a link sent to his mobile by accident, but investigators also found deleted searches including terms such as 'pedo', 'youngest' and 'hairless'. His solicitor told the court Betteridge had been going through a 'dark' time with poor mental health when the offence occurred. But, when he appeared for sentencing in Inverness, Sheriff Gary Aitken appeared to have little sympathy for the paedophile's mental health struggles. Sheriff Aitken told him: 'No matter how bad you think your mental health was […] I can assure you that the children you watched being brutalised would be significantly more affected than you ever were, and their lives destroyed for your entertainment.' A previous hearing had heard how the 32-year-old's then home in South Guildry Street, Elgin, was searched by police and his phone seized. Search discovered vile video It was examined and had 14 of the most serious types of child abuse images at Category A as well as one 10 second video. Depute fiscal Pauline Gair told Sheriff Sara Matheson that experts also found three still images in Category B and two in category C. All of the images were inaccessible and had been downloaded between September 29 2019 and September 8, 2022 – the day before Betteridge's home was searched. Also found were deleted search histories which had saved words like 'pedophile, young, younger, youngest, pedo and hairless', Mrs Gair added. At the sentencing hearing yesterday, Betteridge's defence agent told the court his client had been suffering from mental health difficulties and going through a particularly 'dark' time at the time of the offence. 'Low risk' offender watched children being 'brutalised' He stressed the low number of images and highlighted that Betteridge had been assessed as low risk going forward. Sheriff Aitken told Betteridge, of Main Street, Elgin, his crime was 'far from trivial' and should not be considered victimless. He placed the first offender on a Community Payback Order with three years of social work supervision and a requirement that he complete the Moray sex offenders programme. He also required Betteridge to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work in the community and placed him on the sex offenders register for three years.
