November 1978

Photos help convict paedophile

A nine year old girl was forced by a 27 year old man to have indecent photos of her taken in back garden

And the man, James Bell, of East Kilbride also had unlawful sexual intercourse with her

However Bell’s abuse of the girl came to a end when his wife discovered three photographs under bedroom mattress

She contacted the police who in turn arrested Bell

At Hamilton Sheriff court Bell pled guilty to using, lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards the girl by taking photographs of her naked parts and also to having unlawful sexual intercourse with her

Bell’s defence pointed out that Bell had realised his unnatural urges towards the girl and had gone to the psychiatric unit at the Victoria infirmary for help

However as he had no further contact with the girl at that stage, it was decided there was no need to treat him at the hospital

Defence continued – I do not think he was particularly evil in his intentions. He obviously knew he was doing wrong, but he could not control himself

Fiscal explained that when Bell’s wife found the photographs under the mattress, she confronted him and a argument developed and the police were called

Sheriff Fiddes QC said he was astonished by a psychiatrists report that Bell should be put on probation with a provision that he attend a clinic

The Sheriff pointed out the the maximum sentence for the offences was life imprisonment