Computing teacher escapes prison over porn charge

A COMPUTING teacher who taught pupils about internet safety has been spared jail after being caught with a stash of child pornography at the school where he worked

A computing teacher has escaped a prison sentence after being caught in possession of child pornography at his home and at the school he worked. Picture: PA

John MacMillan kept images of the sexual abuse of children on computers at his home and in the classroom.

The 60-year-old was a respected information technology teacher at Brannock High School in Newarthill, Lanarkshire.

However, police acting on a tip off raided his home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, and his office in January this year.

As well as indecent images of children, MacMillan was also caught with videos of extreme pornography showing animals having sex with humans.

MacMillan was put on a community payback order with three years supervision and ordered to complete 270 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from having unsupervised contact with children under 17 and from using the internet for three years.

He was also put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years. MacMillan, who had been a teacher for 34 years, had 58 files found on his computer and many of these showed indecent pictures of children, but only eight were easily accessible to other users.

Defence lawyer Nicholas Scullion said: “He accepts his actions were wrong and is very sorry.

“He has been leading a double life for the past three years. His relationship had broken down which created a vacuum and this activity filled that vacuum.

“Mr MacMillan is a person of previous good repute and character and all of his friends have been shocked by his offending,

“Given his former profession he could help other people in a similar situation.”

Officers investigating the case also found pictures showing erotic poses of children, mostly girls, under the age of 16 as well as images depicting sexual activity between children.

Charges against him stated that during a three year period stretching from January 2010 to January 2013 MacMillan had in his possession indecent images of children at home and the school where he worked.

Sheriff Douglas Brown said: “The recommendation is for a community order and I consider that as appropriate.

“If there is any breach of the order a sentence of imprisonment will be imposed.”

MacMillan refused to comment.