A shamed ex-councillor who was caught with an illicit stash of more than 200 child abuse images has been spared jail.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that Michael Jamieson, who was arrested just months after his election, was getting professional help to address his offending.
The 69-year-old was forced to quit as Tory councillor for the Perth City South ward after police raided his home in September.
Jamieson, a former teacher, was also a stalwart of a long-standing children’s music festival and had been president of the Rotary Club of Perth St Johns.
Back in the dock for sentencing on Monday, he was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid community work.
Sheriff William Wood imposed a three year supervision order, effectively banning Jamieson from using the internet or visiting places where under 16-year-olds were likely to be.
Jamieson, who will also remain on the sex offenders’ list for three years, had previously admitted possession of indecent images at his home in Buchan Drive, Perth, between August 8, 2014, and April 28, 2016.
The court heard he had been getting help from the child protection charity Stop It Now, and was attending every available session.
Solicitor David Holmes said his client was able and willing to carry out community service work, despite being recently diagnosed with type two diabetes.
Sheriff Wood told Jamieson: “I get the distinct impression from the reports that you are indeed remorseful.
“Clearly, as someone who has been very prominent in the community, this will have caused you significant embarrassment.
“It may be argued that you have been punished enough, given the loss of your position in society. But because of the nature of these charges and given the severity of some of the images that you had, there really ought to be further punishment.”
The court heard police officers arrived with a search warrant at Jamieson’s home, following a tip-off from a member of the public.
They took away a range of computer kit, including a tower, eight USB sticks and a second PC with two hard-drives.
During the search, Jamieson told his partner: “I looked at a couple of photographs.”
Investigators found a total of 219 indecent images, with 55 at category A – the most serious – 76 in category B, and 88 in category C.
A video was also recovered which showed a child aged between five and seven engaged in a sexual act with an adult male.
Jamieson had a meeting with then-council leader Ian Campbell after he was released on bail following his first court appearance in September. He handed over his letter of resignation after Mr Campbell ordered him to quit.
Jamieson also resigned as secretary of the Perform in Perth festival, a competition which attracts around 4,000 young musicians a year.
The former councillor declined to comment after the court hearing.
