Woman who shared footage of her molesting boy, seven, and filmed sexually abusing dog jailed for nine years

A woman who shared footage of her molesting a boy and was filmed sexually abusing a dog has been jailed for nine years.

Sylvia Carroll, 42, was told by judge Lady Poole on Friday that her actions were “disgraceful” following a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court had heard how Sylvia possessed extreme pornographic images which depicted in an “explicit and realistic” way “sexual activity between a person and dogs and horses”.

The court also heard how that Sylvia also sexually abused a boy who cannot be named for legal reasons. The child was seven when the abuse began.

She then took indecent photographs of the child and distributed them via the Snapchat and WhatsApp messaging apps.

Meanwhile, her partner Ian Carroll, 41, possessed extreme pornographic images “depicting in an explicit and realistic” way sexual activity between a “person and dogs, horses and pigs”.

Ian, who works as a delivery driver, then made video recordings of Sylvia engaging in sexual activity with a dog.

The pair, of Cairneyhill, Fife, pleaded guilty earlier this year to extreme pornography, making and distributing indecent images and sexual abuse charges. The offences took place in Fife between July 2021 and March 2024.

On Friday, the pair appeared once again at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing.

Passing sentence, Lady Poole told Ian that he’d serve two and a half years for his role in making and possessing extreme pornography.

Lady Poole also ordered Sylvia to be supervised for three years following her release from custody.

The judge told the pair: “The High Court sees many cases involving serious crime. But this case is particularly sickening and shocking.

“The behaviour of both of you has been depraved and disgusting.

“The consequences for victims of your behaviour, and others indirectly affected, have been far reaching and devastating.

“The potential for this harm should have been obvious to you. It beggars belief that both of you would indulge in these activities for your own gratification, given the clear costs to others.

“Both of you stand convicted of disgraceful offences which must attract significant prison sentences.

“I have taken into account that you have not previously been sentenced to imprisonment or detention but given the nature and seriousness of the crimes of which each of you have been convicted, no other method of dealing with you is appropriate.”

At earlier proceedings, prosecutor Leanne Cross told Lady Poole of how police managed to catch the pair after receiving confidential information.

Officers then launched a forensic investigation in which they seized 34 IT devices belonging to the couple.

They found hundreds of videos and images on the devices which depicted “extreme pornography.”

Detectives also found a WhatsApp thread on Sylvia’s phone in which she exchanged 17,000 messages with a “contact”.

The court heard that officers discovered that in the messages, Sylvia “contemporaneously described” sexually abusing the little boy.

The messages also contained video files which showed the abuse taking place.

Her partner Ian’s phone was examined, and officers found two videos of extreme pornography.

Ms Cross told the court about the moment the pair were arrested.

She said: “On March 1, 2024, a search warrant was obtained for the property and was executed on March 7 2024.

“At that time, the accused Sylvia Carroll was present within the house, and the accused Ian Carroll returned home to the locus from his work.

“His mobile phone was seized from him, and he provided the passcode for this to the officers.

“Sylvia Carroll intimated to the police officers that she wished to say something and was reminded she was still under caution.

“Following initial examination of these devices, it was clear that both accused were in possession of high numbers of extreme pornography.”

Ms Cross said that officers examined Sylvia’s phone. They found images and videos of Sylvia performing a sex act on a dog – the court heard how the animal “appears distressed”.

The other images showed the dog performing sex acts on Sylvia.

Ms Cross added: “The runtime of these videos is 21 minutes and 46 seconds.”

Ms Cross added that Sylvia’s phone contained 383 files categorised as “extreme pornography”.

The court heard that Ian’s phone contained 247 files categorised as extreme porn.

On Friday, Ian’s defence solicitor advocate Peter Robertson asked for his client to dealt with more leniently than his co-accused.

Sylvia’s lawyer, Gordon Martin KC, said his client had suffered from adverse childhood experiences.

He added: “She is somebody who is clearly vulnerable.”

Lady Poole put the pair on the Sex Offenders Register for life.