A Falkirk Paedophile prison officer, Peter Sugden, who targeted an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl during his lunch breaks using a texting application has avoided incarceration in another triumph for Police Scotland.
Peter Sugden, 46, initiated communication with the Kik profile in June 2024, convinced it was associated with a teenage girl from Essex.
However, he was, in fact, communicating with a volunteer from an internet protection team who was overseeing the decoy account.
Peter Sugden, from Falkirk, transmitted inappropriate messages and sexual comments to the fabricated adolescent over a period of 16 days.
Individuals identifying as paedophile hunters visited his residence on June 27, challenged him, and then notified the police.
Peter Sugden was transported to Falkirk police station and provided “full and frank admissions,” as stated by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
He admitted throughout the interview to dispatching texts prior to departing for work, during lunch breaks, and early in the evening on a nearly regular basis.
Prosecutors reported that Peter Sugden’s mobile phone was analysed and discovered to contain 12 photographs of child abuse, classified from category A to C. A is rape and torture.
Peter Sugden appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on April 2 and confessed to the creation or possession of obscene pictures between March 2019 and June 2024.
He also confessed to attempting to engage in inappropriate communication with a minor.
He was given a three-year community payback order at the same court on Tuesday and will be subject to supervision and restrictions.
He was also added to the sex offenders register.
Helen Nisbet, procurator fiscal for Tayside, Central and Fife, said: “Peter Sugden deliberately conducted a sexualised exchange online with someone he thought to be a 13-year-old girl.
“Following his arrest, his phone was found to contain several images containing child sexual exploitation and abuse.
“Peter Sugden has now been held accountable for his predatory and exploitative conduct, and we hope this prosecution makes clear that we will take action against those who commit this type of offending.”
The Scottish Prison Service has been contacted for comment as to how they managed to help him avoid prison.
UPDATE 25.05.25
The court heard that Sugden has already paid to undertake rehab work the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and has been engaging with child abuse prevention charity Stop It Now!
Sheriff Craig Harris placed Sugden under supervision for three years and on the sex offenders register for the same period.
He ordered Sugden to complete 210 hours of unpaid work in the next two years and imposed a string of strict conduct requirements affecting Sugden’s internet use.
Sheriff Harris said: “These offences involve a high degree of culpability.
“In terms of harm, viewing, downloading and distributing indecent images of children is part of the process of child abuse.
“Those who access material bear responsibility for the abuse for creating a demand for such material.
“You worked yourself with sex offenders. You delivered a high intensity programme.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We recognise the profound and lasting impact such crimes have on survivors.
“This individual is no longer employed by the Scottish Prison Service.”
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