A former company director from Lindsayfield, Scott Ferguson, who confessed to possessing indecent photos of minors on his computer, is scheduled to return to court next month.
Scott Ferguson, a paedophile residing at 27 Durban Avenue, Lindsayfield, was sentenced at Lanark Sheriff Court on Friday.
Sheriff Nicola Stewart postponed the sentencing for an additional six weeks to facilitate the production of a psychological report and risk assessment.
Scott Ferguson was apprehended following an inquiry that directed investigators to his parents’ residence in Kirkmuirhill, near Lanark, where he utilised a computer to acquire illicit photos.
The 36-year-old Scott Ferguson formerly served as a director of his family’s civil engineering firm in Kirkmuirhill.
However, he was expelled from the company after the allegations were revealed.
Upon his arrival at court on Friday, Scott Ferguson was accompanied by his partner, Stephen Hendry, who endeavoured to protect Ferguson from cameras.
During a prior court session, Scott Ferguson was registered as a sex offender after he confessed to producing or allowing the creation of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of minors between October 26, 2006, and September 5, 2007, at 31 to 33 Strathaven Road, Kirkmuirhill, and 27 Durban Avenue, East Kilbride.
Scott Ferguson is due back in court on December 11.
Meanwhile, last week, the police service in Scotland responded to the growing threat to child safety represented by the online abuse of children and the distribution of indecent images of children.
Operation Alba is a Scotland-wide operation involving the eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), the Crown Office and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).
The purpose of Operation Alba is to ensure offenders are identified, enforcement action is taken, and children at risk are rescued from harm.
Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, who holds the Child Protection portfolio for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) said: “We are turning a corner in dealing with this kind of crime in Scotland and we will be proactive in our approach.
“Those who attack and abuse our children think they can disguise their tracks.
“However, we will use the very technology they exploit to catch them.
“Operation Alba will use intelligence and investigation techniques, including existing and emerging technology, to detect those involved in online child abuse and bring them to justice.
“We are utilising the most up-to-date technology to identify and arrest individuals who attack and abuse vulnerable children. Those who do so will rightly face lengthy prison sentences, as Rennie and Strachan did.
“There is no stereotypical child abuser – they come from all walks of life, all professions, can be married and with children of their own. Often, they have had no previous contact with the authorities.
“We are making clear through Operation Alba that there is no hiding place, every contact via the internet leaves a trail which we will follow. We will investigate, enforce the law and rescue children from harm. It is a priority for the police service in Scotland to protect our children.”
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.