Child porn inquiry 'revealed US links'

Published on Tuesday 10 March 2009 20:48

AN INVESTIGATION into child pornography in Scotland found links with paedophiles in the United States and Netherlands, a court heard yesterday.

Lothian and Borders Police officers examined e-mail traffic as part of Operation Algebra, and their inquiries revealed messages sent and received by James Rennie, 38, of Edinburgh, who was chief executive of an advice centre that helps youngsters with difficulties over sexuality.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told there had been traffic between Rennie and Matthew Grasso and Patrick Lalleman.

Detective Inspector Stuart Hood said Grasso was currently in custody in Massachusetts for "prolific distribution" of indecent images of children. Lalleman was being investigated by Dutch authorities.

Rennie and seven others are accused of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The others are: Neil Strachan, 41, and Colin Slaven, 23, of Edinburgh, Ross Webber, 27, of North Berwick, Craig Boath, 24, of Dundee, and Neil Campbell, 46, John Milligan, 40, and John Murphy, 44, all of Glasgow. Rennie, Strachan and Slaven are also charged with committing sexual offences with children.