Search for missing man facing child porn charges

Derek Reid was due to appear on child porn charges. Picture: submitted

Derek Reid, 46, has been missing from his home in the town since Thursday when a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear for sentence at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Earlier this month Reid admitted possessing nearly 4,000 obscene images of children, some of girls as young as six months old. A sheriff said the pictures included some of the worst examples of child pornography he had ever seen.

A search of the coastline in the New Aberdour area, involving an RAF search and rescue helicopter, was launched yesterday after Mr Reid’s car, a blue Citroen Picasso, was found close to the popular beach about ten miles from his home in Inverallochy.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said that further searches of the coastline were continuing today involving Police divers and Coastguard search teams - again concentrating on New Aberdour beach.

He said: “Mr Reid is described as being of stocky build, 5ft 8ins in height with balding grey hair. He is believed to be wearing black jeans and black trainers and has a black earring in his left ear.”

The spokesman added: “Police are concerned for Mr Reid’s welfare and are appealing for him to contact them to confirm that he is safe and well. Anyone who may know the whereabouts of Mr Reid is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

During yesterday’s brief court hearing, Mr Reid’s agent, solicitor Peter Keene, said he was worried about his client, because he had never missed a court appointment.