Woman shared videos of her molesting boy and sexually abusing dog

A woman shared footage of her molesting a boy and filmed sexually abusing a dog in behaviour described as “repugnant to society”.

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 Sylvia sexually abused a boy under the age of ten.

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

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.

In February 2024, Police Scotland received confidential information that the user of a Kik social media account associated with an IP address relating to the accused’s home in Fife had uploaded indecent material to the Internet

Officers carried out a forensic investigation and seized 34 electronic devices belonging to the couple.

They found hundreds of videos and images 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 videos which showed the abuse taking place.

Judge Lady Poole remanded Sylvia, a first offender, and Ian, who has one previous conviction, in custody.

Background reports were ordered to be prepared for a hearing which will be held later this year.

The couple pleaded guilty to a number of serious offences.

“What you have done is repugnant to society,” she said.

“This applies particularly to you Sylvia Carroll. Your behaviour has been appalling and disgraceful.”

More than 600 files of ‘extreme pornography’ found

The offences took place in Fife between July 2021 and March 2024.

They both arrived to court covering their faces with masks, hoods, hats and sun glasses.

On March 7, 2024, police carried out a search of the couple’s home. At the time Sylvia was at home and Ian returned from his work.

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

Sylvia, while still under caution, told officers about some of the videos.

“Following initial examination of these devices, it was clear that both accused were in possession of high numbers of extreme pornography,” prosecutor Leanne Cross told the court.

Sylvia’s phone contained 383 files categorised as “extreme pornography”, Ian’s phone contained 247 files in the same category.

On August 28, 2024, Sylvia Carroll was taken to Dunfermline Police Station and interviewed under caution.

“During interview, she admitted to being responsible for all messages and media present on or sent from her mobile phone and social media accounts to the users in question,” the prosecution said.

“She accepted that she had filmed/photographed created all the indecent videos and imagery present on her device.”

Ian Carroll’s defence solicitor advocate Peter Robertson asked for his client to be given bail ahead of his sentencing hearing next month.

Sylvia’s solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told the court that his client suffered from poor mental health.

He said he was not making an application for bail as Sylvia knew she would eventually receive a lengthy prison sentence.

He added: “She knows she is going to be punished and she deserves to be punished.”

Lady Poole remanded the pair in custody. The case will next call at the High Court in Edinburgh on September 26, 2025.