Independence campaigner caught with AI-generated indecent images of children

An independence campaigner is facing a potential jail sentence after being caught with AI-generated indecent images of children.

Amelia Connolly, 23, was arrested after police with a search warrant raided her home in Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that the raid took place at 8.50am on December 5, 2024 and followed the receipt of “certain intelligence”.

Prosecutor Ronnie Hay said that Connolly answered the door and allowed officers to enter.

A search was carried out and Connolly handed over her phone. It was examined and four indecent images were recovered.

Mr Hay said: “The images all appeared artificial-intelligence generated, and showed a female child’s face on an adult body engaged in sexualised posing.”

The images were created on October 30, 2024.

Three of the images were rated as “Category B” – the middle rating on the accepted scale of seriousness for child sex abuse images – and one was rated Category C.

Mr Hay said: “All of the images were accessible to the user of the mobile telephone.”

Amelia Connolly pictured with former first minister Nicola Sturgeon. Tim Bugler

Connolly attended by arrangement at Falkirk Police Station a fortnight later.

She was arrested, cautioned and charged and replied: “I don’t know.”

Connolly, a first time offender, of Alloa, pled guilty to making indecent pseudo-photographs of children, contrary to the 1982 Civic Government (Scotland) Act.

Solicitor Paul Robertson, defending, asked the court to obtain social background reports on her.

Sheriff Simon Collins KC deferred sentence for this purpose until May 1.

He also called for a restriction of liberty order assessment.

He said: “It’s an unusual case.

“The background, I suspect, needs to be investigated.”

Bail was continued and her phone was ordered to be forfeit.

Connolly, who uses a wheelchair, turned round on leaving the court building when she spotted a press photographer and went back inside without comment.

On social media, Connolly described herself as “autistic, lesbian [and] passionate for Scotland leaving the UK and rejoining the EU.”

She also has a personal website which mentions her involvement with Young Scots for Independence – the youth wing of the SNP – as well as Gay Pride and the Scottish branch of Young European Movement.