Ex-headmaster Andrew Melville admits child porn

A former primary school headmaster from East Lothian has admitted charges of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Andrew Melville, 47, left his job at Whitecraig Primary School in Musselburgh after police searched his home in March.

They found 457 indecent images of children, a dozen of which were at the more serious end of the spectrum.

His name has been added to the sex offenders' register.

He was known by his middle name of Mark while working at the school.

Sheriff Alistair Noble said he would defer sentence on Melville, a first offender, until January to obtain background reports.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Melville of Gullane, pleaded guilty to being in possession of indecent photographs and to distributing indecent photographs between 13 June 2004 and 30 May 2005.

Fiscal Depute, Siobhan Monks, told the court that after receiving the information, police obtained a search warrant and went to Melville's home in the early hours of 13 March this year.

He told them he had five computers in the house and the whole family had access to them.

Asked if there was anything illegal on them, Melville admitted there was adult porn.

Questioned as to whether there was anything else, he said: "Maybe. About four years ago I was given some child images which I deleted. In my line of work this is a 'No' 'No'."

He told the police that at the time he had been frequenting the AOL chatline and had received some images of school girls. One had shown a 10-year-old having sexual intercourse with an adult male.

The fiscal said Melville had been expelled from the chatline for having an "inappropriate conversation" with a girl.

Examination of the computers showed that a laptop contained indecent images.

Of this number, 121 had been sent to Melville. He had sent out 336 images. Ms Monks said 291 of the images were "unique".

Defence agent, Colm Dempsey, asked that Melville continue to be allowed bail.

The Sheriff agreed, but ordered Melville to be placed on the sex offenders' register.

An East Lothian Council spokesman said: "I can confirm that Mr Melville was dismissed by East Lothian Council on 30 July 2008, after disciplinary hearing, the results of which he has not appealed.

"He was suspended on 14 March 2008, as soon as the police made us aware of the allegations against him.

"We dealt with matters efficiently and effectively, in line with Lothian child protection procedures and the East Lothian Council disciplinary process.

"Before his appointment, Mr Melville underwent all statutory disclosure procedures and received clearance for his appointment.

"The police confirmed that no images of East Lothian children were involved."

BBC News