Government worker with 2,000 images faces jail

A MAN who was caught with more than 2,000 indecent images of children as a result of an investigation into a paedophile ring in Edinburgh is facing jail.

Christopher Black was snared after FBI officers tipped off Strathclyde Police following the operation in 2008.

The 29-year-old, who works for the Scottish Government, was caught by detectives after his details were found on a computer during an earlier investigation.

That probe led to the discovery that snared perverts James Rennie and Neil Strachan in 2009.

The pair were sentenced to 13 years and 16 years respectively after almost 125,000 images were found in Operation Algebra.

A later raid on Black's home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, led to his arrest and he told detectives he had stored 2,058 images on three computers.

A hearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court saw Black admit taking or permitting the taking of indecent photographs of children between January 2008 and February 2009.

Depute Fiscal Vincent Lunnie said: "The investigation in Scotland in March 2008 that was carried out by the FBI in the US after a child pornography ring was discovered in Edinburgh."

Defence agent Ian Scott told the court his client tried to 'distance' his loved ones from his sick acts.

He said: "My client is well aware of the potential consequences of this case."