In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Brian Jacobi, then 68, of Wishart Place, Dundee, avoided a prison sentence at Dundee Sheriff Court after being caught with a “horror cache” of child sexual abuse material. Jacobi attempted to excuse his actions with claims that the court later branded as “unconvincing and offensive.”
The court heard that on May 16, 2018, police executed a search warrant at Jacobi’s home following an intelligence-led investigation. Officers discovered 143 indecent images and eight videos of children on his computer. Forensic experts noted that Jacobi was “knowledgeable and proficient” in using sophisticated file-cleaning software specifically designed to delete browsing history and hide sensitive data from law enforcement. When interviewed by police, Jacobi claimed he had downloaded the material to “test his libido” and alleged he could not tell the ages of the children because “they were Japanese.” He later admitted that at least one girl appeared to be approximately 12 years old.
Jacobi pleaded guilty on indictment to taking or making indecent images of children between January 2016 and March 2018. Despite the gravity of the offences and his deliberate attempts to cover his tracks, Sheriff Alastair Brown opted for a community-based sentence rather than immediate custody. The Sheriff noted that Jacobi’s racial justifications for his inability to identify the victims’ ages were entirely meritless.
Brian Jacobi was sentenced to a Community Payback Order, which included 225 hours of unpaid work and three years of mandatory supervision. He was also ordered to undergo a specific sex offender treatment programme to address his behaviour and risk factors.
As a result of his conviction, Jacobi was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years. He is managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in the Tayside area. This involves ongoing monitoring by Police Scotland and the National Probation Service, including unannounced visits and checks on his digital devices to ensure he is no longer using software to hide illicit online activity.
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