In 2025, the Offender Database reported that Steven Wishart, then 43, of Well Road, Buckie, Moray, was convicted of digital child abuse. Wishart appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court following a police raid on his home that uncovered hundreds of indecent images and videos.
The investigation established that Wishart was amassing a library of over 500 indecent images and 60 videos on a laptop, USB drive, and computer tower. The prosecution reported that the material included 45 images and 32 videos categorised as Category A—the most severe classification. Further analysis revealed 65 items in Category B and 448 in Category C. While some material was accessible, a large portion had been stored in an inaccessible format.
Judicial Findings and Arrest Details
The court reported that the police raid took place in autumn 2020 while Wishart was at home with his family. During the search, Wishart claimed to feel faint and was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. After being declared fit by medical staff, he was arrested and taken to Burnett Road Police Station. The judge noted that the offending spanned a four-year period between June 2016 and October 2020.
Wishart pleaded guilty to two charges, including the making and possession of indecent photos or pseudo-photographs of children. The judge emphasised that the volume and severity of the material, particularly the Category A content, required a formal assessment of the risk he poses to the community. The prosecution noted that the “pseudo-photographs” mentioned in the charges are images that appear to be of children, even if they are digitally created or altered.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Buckie, Moray, Steven Wishart was subject to:
- Sex Offenders Register: Placed on the register immediately upon his guilty plea.
- Reports: Sheriff Gary Aitken deferred sentencing until 14 January 2026 for background reports.
- Convictions: Admitted to making and possessing indecent images and pseudo-photos.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Wishart is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland. His history of amassing a large digital library of “vile” material across various devices means his status remains under scrutiny.
As a registered sex offender, Wishart must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Buckie, Moray. Authorities state that his digital access will be monitored to prevent further offending. Any breach of his current conditions before his return to Inverness Sheriff Court in 2026 will result in his immediate arrest.
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