Probation for obscene calls officer

Published on Tuesday 31 January 2012 00:00

A RESPECTED family protection police officer who made “obscene, disgusting and depraved” phone calls to a chatline avoided jail yesterday despite a sheriff telling him he may have “prejudiced sensitive police inquiries”.

Detective Constable Iain Ledger made 11 calls to a chat service describing in detail sexual activity with children. The “well- respected” officer, who worked in Tayside Police’s family protection unit when he made the calls, was placed on restricted duties when the calls came to light.

Sheriff Richard Davidson put Ledger on probation and the sex offenders register for three years, and ordered him to undertake a sex offenders group programme.

He ordered Ledger to produce itemised phone bills and allow social workers unannounced access to his computers.

He said: “You have brought shame on your family and your colleagues at Tayside Police.

“My worst fear is that you may have prejudiced sensitive inquiries, as you can no longer be a credible witness.

“This is a considerable personal tragedy for you, but it is not my intention to send you to prison.

“The content of these calls are an encouragement to other sad and lonely men that sex with children is acceptable, when it never will be.

“The joint police board must investigate whether people in the family protection unit have the appropriate support and have appropriate backgrounds in the first place. It seems to me clear that you didn’t.”