High School Worker Steven Jamieson Jailed over Child Porn

A school worker, who was caught with over 5000 images of child porn on his computer, has been jailed. Steven Jamieson was employed at Deans Community High School for over 20 years as a pool attendant.

The lifeguard was a popular member of staff at the school where he worked with children as young as five from nearby primary schools which also used the pool.

But when police raided his home they found he had downloaded thousands of vile images of a "very disturbing nature".

Jamieson, whose address was given as Old Mill Road, Broxburn, pled guilty to being in possession of a quantity of indecent photographs of children.

The 45 year old also admitted downloading the child porn when he appeared at Linlithgow Sheriff Court last week.

Paul Beaton, procurator fiscal depute, said it was accepted that Jamieson had not been involved in the manufacture of the material.

His solicitor said the prosecution had been devastating for his client.

He said: "When this came to light his mother asked him to leave the family home.

"He also lost his job because of it. He resigned from the school but he would have lost his job anyway."

The defence agent added: ?He has to accept that this is not a victimless crime.

"While he is not responsible for what is happening to these children he is perpetuating a system of abuse by viewing these pictures.

"It is clearly an issue which needs to be addressed.

"He has never harboured any thoughts of abusing children.

"What happens in his bedroom essentially stays in his bedroom and he has been able to cope with that through his whole adult life.

"There is no evidence at all that had this matter not come to light that he would have gone on to offend again in any way.

"This has been a very unpleasant experience for him and has dramatically changed his life and those of members of his family who are aware of what is happening to him."

But Sheriff Douglas Kinloch had no sympathy for Jamieson and said there was no option but to jail the sexual deviant.

Sentencing him to eight months in jail with a two-year extended sentence Sheriff Kinloch said: "You downloaded over 5000 indecent pictures of young children.

"That type of activity creates a demand which substantiates the vile trade these people deal in.

"It is for that reason that crimes like these are treated seriously by society and by the courts.

"I have listened to everything said on your behalf but a large number of these images you downloaded were of a very disturbing nature.

"I cannot find anything exceptional in your circumstances that means I can deal with this by anything other than a prison sentence.

"You are assessed at a medium risk of reconviction. I wish to ensure that the public is adequately protected when you are released so I will place you on an extended sentence of another two years.

"You will also be placed on the Sex Offenders? Register for 10 years."