A therapist who is facing jail after being caught with a stash of vile child abuse images is a former Justice of the Peace.
Kieran Docherty, a registered counsellor who advertised himself as a £40 an hour therapist for cases of trauma, sexual abuse and “sexual issues”, was caught after his home in Fife was raided last July.
It has emerged he had previously served as a Justice of the Peace – hearing minor criminal cases at Dundee JP court, in the same complex where he has now admitted the child abuse image offences.
A source said: “He served for about two years ago, and quit about two years before he was arrested citing health grounds.
“It was a bit of a shock to see him in the dock having previously seen him on the bench.”
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Docherty and his partner were told they were both being detained on suspicion of downloading the horror pictures.
They depicted young boys aged between two and 14, some showing children involved in “penetrative sexual contact” with adults.
At that point Docherty said: “If there’s any pornography it will be mine.”
Speaking previously, fiscal depute Saima Rasheed told Dundee Sheriff Court: “An examination of all his equipment revealed a total of 101 images, 70 of which were unique.
“That included 21 at category A – the most serious level – which depicts penetrative sexual contact with adults.”
Docherty, 62, of Coach Road, Newburgh, Fife, pleaded guilty on indictment to taking or making indecent photographs of children at his home address on July 28 last year.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports and released Docherty on bail meantime.
A spokesman for the Judicial Office for Scotland said: “Mr Docherty resigned as a Justice of the Peace on health grounds in September 2013 having served as a judicial office holder for two years.”
