Prevention is not the same as solution

The case of disgraced former teacher Robert Lightband is indicative of a growing problem in dealing with criminals who seek out child abuse images. The retired history teacher admitted to Dundee Sheriff Court that his urges are effectively “incurable” and no rehabilitation programme will make any difference.

Usually offenders who admit such tendencies are told to liaise with social workers and other experts to “treat” their problem.

Lightband was clear this would make no difference and he was sent straight to jail.

What happens when he is released at the end of his 145day term?

He is subject to a raft of measures limiting his access to places where young boys may gather and restricting use of the internet.

They are preventative measures but in no way are they solutions and the sentencing sheriff did not dress them up as such.

Scottish law has no effective sanction for paedophiles and other sex offenders.

A tiny proportion of other criminals are driven by compulsion in the same way – generally, they can be punished and their activity stopped.

Worryingly, there seem to be thousands of men in all walks of life with an unhealthy interest in young boys.

Lightband and other sex offenders like him are well aware they are likely to commit the same offences again.

It has taken a paedophile to so starkly point out the obvious flaw in our system of punishment.

It is one worthy of much more study.