Ex-SNP man downloaded child porn

Hunter searched for child porn on his council computer

A former Scottish National Party councillor is facing jail after being found guilty of downloading child porn off the internet.

Iain Hunter, 44, carried out the offence at Perth and Kinross Council, and in his home in Gallowhill, Crieff.

He was added to the sex offender's register for making indecent photographs following a case at Perth Sheriff Court.

The ex-SNP councillor for Crief South will be sentenced next month.

Computer ID

Once a prominent member of the council and former election agent to Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham, he voluntarily stood down after police mounted an internet pornography probe in October 2001.

He was initially caught by a council information security manager, who discovered illegal sites had been visited on the ex-councillor's computer.

Computer records clearly showed someone had made repeated attempts to view material banned by the council and led them to Hunter through his logon ID.

In court, a recorded interview saw the bachelor claim the illegal websites had "just popped up".

No accident

He was initially unable to explain the searches on his office computer but later admitted there were not "an accident".

During the recorded exchanges he said: "Certainly it is more than just accidentally clicking on a site.

"I just look at them and I can't really come up with any explanation. You are interested and you look."

I just look at them and I can't really come up with any explanation. You are interested and you look Former SNP Councillor Iain Hunter

"It's not something I would feel is the most important thing in my life.

"I have looked obviously. I don't have any instinct to go out and approach youngsters and I never have."

In defence, solicitor-advocate Branislav Sudjic told the court his client had no idea the websites would have contained obscene material when he accessed them.

However, Sheriff Shiona Waldron found him guilty in connection with only three of the hundreds of pictures he was charged with downloading.

She said because the Crown had not produced the rest of the actual pictures in court she could not take them into account.

Hundreds of photos

Police experts gave evidence that hundreds of photos of children - including some in nappies being abused - were found on Hunter's computers.

But the sheriff said it was not enough for police officers simply to turn up in court and say they had seen them.

She said she was left with no choice but to convict Hunter solely on the three pictures of teenage boys shown to her.

Hunter's home computer was forfeited by the court and sentence was deferred for background and community service reports.

The sheriff also requested a future risk assessment report be completed before Hunter returns to court for sentencing on 18 February.