A 23-year-old pro‑independence campaigner and social media creator has admitted to creating sexually explicit images that investigators say were produced using artificial intelligence. The case, heard at Falkirk Sheriff Court, highlights practical and legal questions about how the justice system treats AI‑made material — and why prosecutors and judges are now confronting these issues in real time.
Police executed a warrant at a home in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, in the early morning of December 5, 2024, and seized a mobile phone that later yielded four indecent images. Prosecutors told the court those images showed a child’s face grafted onto an adult body and that some depicted solo sexual activity.
Court details and charges
The defendant, who uses the name Amelia Connolly and also describes herself online as “Lady Amelia of Glencoe,” attended by prior arrangement at Falkirk police station about two weeks after the search. She was arrested, cautioned, and charged there; when questioned she replied, “I don’t know.”
Connolly pleaded guilty to making indecent pseudo‑photographs of children, an offence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Her lawyer asked the court to prepare social background reports before sentencing.
- Search and seizure: Warrant executed at 8:50am, December 5, 2024, at an Alloa address.
- Evidence recovered: Four images on the mobile phone; creation dates recorded as October 30, 2024.
- Classification: Three images graded Category B, one graded Category C.
- Legal outcome so far: Guilty plea entered; sentencing deferred to May 1 to allow reports and an assessment for a restricted‑liberty order.
What the court heard
Prosecutor Ronnie Hay told the court the images “appeared artificial‑intelligence generated” and were accessible on the device. Sheriff Simon Collins KC said the case was “unusual” and agreed that further background checks were necessary before a sentence was imposed.
Bail was continued and the phone was ordered to be forfeited. Court observers reported the defendant — who uses a wheelchair — briefly returned to the building after spotting a press photographer, offering no comment.
Profile and public activity
Publicly, Connolly has identified herself as autistic and lesbian and has promoted Scottish independence, including activity with Young Scots for Independence and the Young European Movement. Her online presence includes political campaigning and a photograph with former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. These details were noted in court but are separate from the criminal allegations.
Why this matters now
The case underlines a growing enforcement challenge: distinguishing between real and AI‑manufactured sexual imagery and applying existing laws designed for traditional photographs. The charge here — for producing “pseudo‑photographs” — is the statutory route prosecutors use when images are digitally fabricated to represent children.
As AI image tools become more accessible, police and courts are increasingly required to assess technical provenance, intent, and risk while balancing evidential standards and defendants’ rights.
The sheriff has adjourned sentencing to May 1 to allow preparation of a social background report and an assessment regarding a restriction of liberty order. The legal outcome will be watched closely by practitioners and advocates interested in how the criminal justice system responds to AI‑driven offences.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
