83-year-old jailed after police find more than 2 million images across his devices, with over 805,000 depicting child SA

Alan MacPherson, an 83-year-old pensioner from Stenhousemuir, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found in possession of what is reportedly believed to be the largest collection of child sexual abuse material ever seized by police in Scotland. As reported by BBC, the discovery occurred during a raid on his home in 2025, where authorities reportedly uncovered more than two million images stored across a variety of electronic devices.

It can be difficult to wrap your head around these numbers, but forensic examiners reportedly identified over 805,000 of those images as depicting child sexual abuse. The volume of data was so massive that a significant portion of the collection could not even be checked or categorized by the authorities. This sheer scale led Sheriff Mayram Labaki to describe the nature of the crime as “exceptional” during the proceedings at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

The investigation began when police reportedly identified an IP address being used to distribute illegal material. In July 2025, MacPherson engaged in an online chat with an undercover police officer, where he posted multiple images of child sexual exploitation. 

He downloaded the content over a 14-year period 

Even though he attempted to use a messaging app designed for anonymity, investigators successfully traced the activity back to his residence. Prosecutor Rachel Wallace noted that the victims in these images were primarily girls between the ages of nine and 15, with at least one victim potentially as young as seven.

When police seized his nine devices, which included computers, phones, digital cameras, a USB stick, and external drives, they reportedly found illicit material on every single one of them. MacPherson admitted to downloading this content over a 14-year period. During his initial interview, he told police that he had been searching for these images online for his own personal gratification.

Sheriff Labaki was particularly critical of MacPherson during the sentencing, specifically highlighting the offender’s lack of remorse. The sheriff remarked, “Your views towards your offending and your victims are unconscionable.” She further noted, “I refer specifically to the passages in the [social work] report where you state that not only were the children consenting, but they were willing participants.” 

The sheriff also stated, “The quantity [of images] was so great that a substantial proportion could not be examined and categorised by forensic examiners. Every image records the abuse or exploitation of a child. The possession and circulation of such material perpetuates that abuse.” “Your attitude is unremorseful”.

Beyond the four-year prison term, MacPherson will be subject to supervision for three years following his release and will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. His defense attorney, Stephen Biggam, mentioned that MacPherson is suffering from macular degeneration, which will cause him to “steadily lose his eyesight.” 

Biggam argued that this condition might mitigate future risk. The court also heard that MacPherson’s wife has served him with divorce papers while he has been in custody. Before these crimes came to light, MacPherson served as a volunteer archivist for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. 

A spokesperson of the organization said that they are “shocked and appalled by the offences committed by Alan MacPherson and the details which have emerged through these court proceedings.” They emphasized that they take safeguarding very seriously and have encouraged anyone with concerns to come forward so that they can be referred to the proper authorities.