KIDDIE PORN HEADMASTER BEHIND BARS; Teacher linked to abuse network had 3000 images.
Byline: Grant McCabeA FORMER headteacher has pleaded guilty to downloading nearly 3000 images of child pornography.
David Wilson was arrested during the Operation Algebra investigation that snared Scotland's biggest paedophile ring.
One of the gang, John Milligan, had communicated with Wilson, who was head of Auchmuty High in Glenrothes, Fife, at the time of the offences.
Wilson, 48, yesterday admitted possessing and downloading child pornography between May 16, 2004, and December 19, 2008.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Kinclaven remanded Wilson in custody for what he called "very serious offences".
Computers
The pervert showed no emotion as he was led to the cells and now faces a lengthy jail term when he returns to court for sentencing next month.
Wilson was traced when Lothian and Borders police investigated Milligan's role in the paedophile ring, which earned him a 17-year jail sentence.
Milligan was branded a "prolific" distributor of child abuse images by prosecutor Bernard Ablett and one of his contacts turned out to be Wilson, using the email alias "Dwillpower1".
Detectives quickly moved in on Wilson's flat in Paisley in December 2008.
He was initially not home, having spent the night in Glenrothes. But police seized computers and other equipment to analyse.
A total of 2969 indecent pictures and movie clips were found on an Apple Mac, hard drives and discs.
The court heard that more than 1000 of the files included the worst levels of child porn classified by police and prosecutors.
It was also discovered he had made searches for images of young boys on two other laptops.
Wilson was later quizzed about the images by detectives and said: "Well, if they are on my computer, then they are obviously on my computer."
However, he made no comment when asked if he had downloaded them for his own gratification.
Wilson also yesterday faced a charge of distributing child porn but his not guilty plea was accepted.
The court was told that he resigned from Auchmuty High in February this year after almost three years at the school.
Joseph Barr, defending, said the ex-headteacher's "exceptional career", was now in ruins.
Mr Barr added thatWilson, who now lives with his parents, had only communicated by email with Milligan and had no "direct contact".
He said Wilson had downloaded from a file-sharing website and had no knowledge the images had come from Milligan, or who he was.
Wilson is the latest to be jailed as part of the Operation Algebra investigation into Scotland's worst paedophile ring.
On Thursday, ringleaders James Rennie and Neil Strachan were handed life sentences for child porn and abuse offences.
Rennie will serve 13 years and Strachan 16 years before they will be eligible for parole.
Another six men had already been jailed for 43 years among them.
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PERVERT: Wilson at the High Court yesterday
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| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
|---|---|
| Geographic Code: | 4EUUK |
| Date: | Oct 31, 2009 |
| Words: | 473 |
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