Abigail Kikke

An Alloa woman, Abigail Kikke, has had her prison sentence reduced after being convicted of sexually abusing a two-year-old child and distributing indecent images online. The case, which shocked the court, involved Kikke targeting the vulnerable toddler in a deliberate bid to profit from paedophiles on the internet.

The abuse occurred between 18 and 26 March 2020 at a house in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. Kikke, then 27 years old and unemployed, admitted to sexually assaulting the young girl by carrying out a sex act on herself and exposing herself to the child. She also pleaded guilty to taking, possessing, and distributing indecent photographs of children, including images featuring her victim. Police intelligence on 26 March 2020 revealed that Kikke had used the social networking service Kik Messenger to send a video, lasting one minute and 58 seconds, to an internet user. The video showed Kikke and the naked child. Upon investigation, authorities found Kikke in possession of 69 indecent images, with the victim appearing in 11 still and moving images; some had been deleted.

During the initial sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh in October 2021, Judge Lord Sandison described the case as one that retained its ability to shock, despite the court hearing horrific accounts daily. He stated: 'This court hears every day accounts of utterly horrific behaviour, often directed against vulnerable victims. Some cases, however, retain their ability truly to shock and this is one of them.' Lord Sandison imposed a six-year custodial sentence, noting that without Kikke's guilty plea, it would have been nine years. He also ordered her to remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Kikke's appeal, heard on 18 January 2022 before Lords Doherty and Matthews, resulted in an eight-month reduction. The appeal judges concluded that Lord Sandison had not adequately considered Kikke's poor mental health and other personal circumstances. Lord Doherty remarked: 'We agree with the sentencing judge that this case was serious and disturbing. Nevertheless, the headline sentence in this case is too high.' The sentence was quashed and substituted with five years and four months' imprisonment, or 64 months. Defence advocate Ronnie Renucci QC highlighted mitigating factors, including Kikke's remorse as noted in the Criminal Justice Social Work Report, her status as a first offender, prior good character, and vulnerability. Kikke had claimed in online chats that she was in debt, self-isolating, and struggling with isolation, communicating with contacts who promised financial help, such as holidays abroad.

The case was reported by the Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser on 24 January 2022, based on court proceedings in Edinburgh. Police in North Lanarkshire received the initial tip-off leading to Kikke's arrest.