A primary school worker who was found in possession of a sickening stash of child abuse images and videos has avoided a prison sentence.
Aaron Scott, 31, of Fintry Drive, worked as a catering assistant at a primary school in Dundee.
Police were tipped off that Scott’s computer would contain indecent images of children.
Officers raided the home he shared with his parents and found more than 2,800 still images — and 30 videos of children as young as eight.
The court was told many of the images featured young girls “heavily made-up” and “performing stripteases in a theatrical style”.
An NSPCC Scotland spokesman branded Scott’s collection “sickening” and “appalling” and called for more to be done to tackle online child abuse.
He said: “Despite working in close proximity to children in a primary school, Scott amassed a collection of appalling images. Behind every one was a real child and Scott’s actions have only fuelled the demand for this sickening material to be produced.
“Online child abuse images must not be tolerated.
“It is vital that tech companies, law enforcement and the government work together to prevent this vile material being published and circulated in the first place.”
Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie told Dundee Sheriff Court: “There was software found that was used to find the images.
“The images featured young girls heavily made-up, wearing fancy costumes. When interviewed by police he said he didn’t have a sexual interest in children.
“He said the software was for downloading movies or games.”
Scott pleaded guilty on indictment to taking or making indecent images of children at his home address between May 20-22 last year.
His solicitor Ross Bennett said: “He was suspended from his job a day or two after his arrest and was ultimately dismissed on September 23.
“He has not found work since and continues to reside with his parents.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond imposed a community payback order with three years’ supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work, and Scott was placed on the sex offenders register for three years.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.