Paedophile’s desires cannot be controlled

COURT: Former teacher says his urges for young boys are untreatable

A paedophile former teacher is behind bars after admitting nothing can be done to curb his sexual desires for young boys.

Robert Lightband, 69, was jailed at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday over indecent images of children found on his computer.

Defence solicitor John Boyle told the court Lightband, who taught history in Dundee and Forfar, would gain nothing from working with sex offender rehabilitation projects.

Mr Boyle said: “To his credit he is honest enough to admit the offences are due to sexual interest.

“He is of the view that treatment is unlikely to change that.”

Sentencing repeat offender Lightband to 145 days in prison, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: “These programmes are expensive and there are a limited number of spaces available.

“I have to be satisfied some good will come of it and it will not be a wasted opportunity.

“There is little or no point putting you on a community payback order because of your admission.

“There is no other suitable sentence than a custodial sentence.”

A sexual offences prevention order was also imposed on Lightband for seven years.

It bans him from unsupervised contact with boys under the age of 17 or entering parks and playgrounds.

A raft of restrictions on his internet use was also imposed.

He will also be subject to the notification requirements of the sex offenders register for the same period.

Lightband, of Clepington Court, Dundee, had previously admitted taking or allowing others to take indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. The offences occurred between June 16 2014 and February 25 2015 at his home address and elsewhere unknown to the prosecutor.

Six indecent images and 2,000 “concerning” images featuring boys in swimming costumes and shorts were found when Lightband had a technician examine his virus-infected computer.

Inappropriate internet searches were also discovered in the former Menzieshill history teacher and church organist’s computer equipment.

He had visited paedophile forums and had also deliberately searched for sexually explicit images of young boys.

Lightband, who advertises himself online as a semi-retired organist, organ consultant and organ teacher, was convicted in 2002 for a similar offence.

A stash of indecent images of boys was discovered in his bedroom by a cleaner.

Robert Lightband, who was found to have indecent images on his computer, arrives at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.