School support worker distributed child abuse videos.

Perthshire man Stuart Allison used Skype to distribute videos

A primary school learning support worker has been caught distributing child abuse videos to other paedophiles using Skype.

Stuart Allison, 44, was involved in the sickening trade while he was working with vulnerable children as young as eight in the classroom setting.

Allison had been downloading child abuse material for more than a decade, and after being cleared to work with young children.

When police raided Allison’s home they found seven internet-enabled devices and child abuse material was found on every one of them.

Perth Sheriff Court heard police staged a raid on his home after being informed that someone at the address was using Skype to share graphic child abuse clips.

Depute fiscal Tina Dickie told the court: “He is 44, single and resides with his elderly parents. “He has no previous convictions. “He was employed as a learning support assistant at a local primary school. He was working with children aged between eight and 12, some of whom had learning difficulties.

“The police received information that a device linked to the accused’s home was involved in the distribution of indecent images of children.

“A search warrant was executed on 15 November 2016. Various computer equipment was seized. Indecent images of children were discovered across the range of devices.”

Mrs Dickie told the court Allison had used his Skype account to pass on 100 videos which were categorised as the most depraved.

She said he had been storing nearly 1,000 videos which would have taken fully four days to watch. He also had nearly 1,500 still images.

Allison, of Trinafour, Perthshire, admitted that between September 2004 and November 2016 he took, or permitted to be taken, indecent photographs of children. He admitted possessing the images during the same period.

He also admitted that between August 2015 and May 2016 he distributed or showed indecent images of children.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis placed Allison on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence for the preparation of social work reports.

A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “While we cannot comment on specific details of any case, we can confirm this individual is no longer employed by Perth and Kinross Council. The council worked closely with Police Scotland and provided any support required during the investigation. No pupils from any Perth and Kinross school have been identified as part of the investigation.”

Stuart Allison was employed as a learning support assistant, working with children aged between eight and 12.