Ex-Traffic Cop Caught Holding Sick Child Abuse Files for Four Years
Alan Mitchell, a disgraced traffic cop, kept vile child abuse files hidden at his family’s detached cottage for over four years. The 47-year-old has lost his job, been forced from his home, banned from seeing his children, and now faces losing the property.
Guilty Plea at Ayr Sheriff Court
Mitchell admitted his crime at Ayr Sheriff Court last month. He pled guilty to breaking the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 by possessing indecent images of children between September 2015 and October 2019 at his Alloway home, which has now been put up for sale.
Defence lawyer Ian Gillies revealed Mitchell is currently living with his parents amid heavy social work supervision. Social workers hope Mitchell can one day have supervised contact with his children.
Judge Slaps Lenient Sentence but Keeps a Tight Grip
Sheriff Scott Pattison said Mitchell escaped prison by “the slimmest of margins” given the severity of the offence. Instead, Mitchell was handed a three-year Community Payback Order under strict social work supervision.
- Must attend the Moving Forward: Making Changes programme designed to reform sex offenders.
- Restricted to owning only one internet-capable device, which must be monitored by authorities.
- Allowed to move homes only after risk assessment approval.
- Banned from contact with anyone under 18 unless approved by his social worker.
- Ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work within 18 months.
- Subject to a Restriction of Liberty Order: electronic tagging and curfew at his parents’ home from 7pm to 7am every day for 10 months.
- Placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
Mitchell must return to court later this year for a progress check.
