SCOTLAND
News & Star
Published on 03/03/2005
A parish priest who became obsessed with child porn websites and downloaded more than 4,000 pictures of young girls has escaped a prison sentence.
But Father George Campbell, who stood down from his duties at St Columba’s in Annan, when his home was raided by police, was yesterday placed on probation for three years, ordered to carry out 250 hours community service, and placed on the sex offenders register for three years.
Sheriff Kenneth Ross at Dumfries heard that Campbell had indicated to the police that he did not access the websites for sexual gratification but through a morbid curiosity that developed into an obsession.
Deputy procurator fiscal Jennifer McGill said the pictures were of girls under 16 in naked or erotic poses, but none showing any sex with adults.
Some of the sites visited carried titles such as “Hot Girls Photos” and “Young Strawberry”.
Posted by kshaw at March 3, 2005 07:39 AM