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Press and Journal
29-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Moray ‘monster' serial rapist could face life sentence after breaching order
A serial rapist who flouted a strict sex offence order by contacting two women and a girl from behind bars could be facing a life sentence. Edward Moir was jailed for seven years in 2014 for attacking three vulnerable females in Elgin, Moray and Macduff. The 34 year-old – who once claimed to be a 'new kind of monster' – was made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in January 2023. He had been locked up again for sending what was described as a 'disgusting' letter to a woman while in jail for the rapes. These latest crimes then occurred while he was in HMP Edinburgh in 2024. Moir today appeared via video-link from prison at the High Court in Glasgow having admitted, at a hearing last month, three charges of breaching the SOPO. Lord Colbeck said a pre-sentencing report had assessed the rapist as remaining at a 'high-risk' of further sexual offending. The judge told Moir's lawyer Simon Gilbride: 'What concerns me is the apparent unwillingness to take part in the necessary courses within prison to address difficulties. 'It almost seems controlling like: 'I am only doing what I want to do'. 'This is a worry in the context of sexual offending.' Mr Gilbride accepted the report was 'concerning' and that he could not oppose a full risk assessment being carried out on Moir. This could eventually lead to a strict Order for Lifelong Restriction being imposed. The case was adjourned and a further hearing is to take place in Inverness on August 26. Prosecutor Vish Kathuria told the court last month how police and prison authorities became aware of phone contact which breached the terms of Moir's SOPO. Moir had been in touch with one woman dozens of times between March and June 2024. He had also been in contact with a five-year-old girl around that time. There had been nearly 30 calls to the number of another woman, which eventually led to her blocking him. Moir raped three women during attacks between 2010 and 2013. He was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen. In 2021, Moir was guilty of indecently communicating with a woman who he barely knew. In the letter, he asked her to be his 'secret lover'. Moir also chillingly stated prison had 'turned him into a new kind of monster'. The woman who received the letter was said to be 'absolutely disgusted' and contacted police.
Edinburgh Live
26-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Former Edinburgh private school worker convicted again after police raid his home
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A former IT worker at an Edinburgh private school who avoided jail for having child rape videos has been convicted a second time. Darren Scott, previously known as Darren Scordecchia, was spared a custodial sentence in April 2018 after being caught with the vile haul of sex abuse videos and images. Several of the films were category A, which signifies the most extreme content. Scott was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and was placed on a supervision order for 12 months. The 42-year-old is now behind bars at HMP Edinburgh after police executed a warrant at his address on September 5, 2024, and found over 15,000 indecent images of children which had been deleted. Scott pleaded guilty to having in his possession indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children between March 23 and September 5, 2024. Scott, who previously held a role as technical support analyst at Mary Erskine School and Stewart's Melville College, has been remanded in custody since September 24. On May 15 Scott was due to be sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but the hearing was deferred until next month to allow a psychological assessment to be carried out. During the raid on Scott's flat on Moat Drive, 39 devices were recovered by police. A total of 15,179 still indecent images of children were discovered on one desktop computer, all of which were inaccessible having previously been deleted. The images showed male and female children aged between 1-15 years, including sadistic content. After the system was the subject of initial examination, more than 5,000 images depicting sex exploitation were discovered. The files were inaccessible but named in way which would confirm they were downloaded with the knowledge they contained such material. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Scott struggled to identify what made him 'cross the line again' and view such material online given his awareness of the consequences. However, he stated once he had done so, he was on a 'downward spiral' of seeking out even more extreme content. Upon leaving college Scott started working at Mary Erskine School and Stewart's Melville College in 2004 on a temporary contract which was subsequently made permanent. He progressed from helpline support to a role as a technical support analyst until his employment was terminated as a result of him being charged and convicted of a previous offence in 2018. Scott undertook temporary IT contracting jobs for a number of years before gaining permanent employment at a data centre where he remained until his arrest last year. Scott pleaded guilty to a single charge contrary to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and is due to be sentenced next month.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Prison officer, 46, who ran ‘paedo rehab courses' in jail is caught with extreme donkey porn & child abuse images
A PRISON officer who ran "paedo rehab courses" in jail has been caught with extreme donkey porn and child abuse images. Peter Sugden, 46, was placed on the sex offenders' register after he was found possessing 12 child sexual abuse images and one video. 3 3 3 The former HMP Edinburgh officer appeared in court at Falkirk Sheriff's Court last week after previously pleading guilty to speaking indecently to a decoy he believed to be a girl named Abbie. Sugden also admitted to possessing child pornography, extreme porn involving images of a woman having sex with a donkey and a man having intercourse with a dog. Two of the photographs found during a raid on his house were deemed Category A - the most severe kind. Category A is defined as images involving penetrative sexual activity; images involving sexual activity with an animal, or sadism. Helen Nisbet, Procurator Fiscal for Tayside, Central and Fife, said: 'Peter Sugden deliberately conducted a sexualised exchange online with someone he thought to be a 13-year-old girl. 'Following his arrest, his phone was found to contain several images containing child sexual exploitation and abuse. 'Sugden has now been held accountable for his predatory and exploitative conduct, and we hope this prosecution makes clear that we will take action against those who commit this type of offending.' Sugden has since been ordered to attend rehab and to work with the child abuse prevention charity Stop it Now! He has also been put under supervision for three years. Passing sentence, Sheriff Craig Harris said: "These offences involve a high degree of culpability. "In terms of harm, viewing, downloading and distributing indecent images of children is part of the process of child abuse. "Those who access material bear responsibility for the abuse for creating a demand for such material. "You worked yourself with sex offenders. You delivered a high intensity programme." Sugden's solicitor, Sarah McIlwham, said he had no previous convictions, and his recent actions had caused "great distress" to his family. She said: "Until the events which bring us to court today, he was a happily married man - married for over 20 years. There are two children of that union. "Up until this offence, he'd been working in SPS as a prison officer for in excess of 22 years. "He had a very positive upbringing. His parents are here today. "These offences have caused great distress, not only to his ex-wife and daughters but also to his parents and immediate family. "Mr Sugden is a man who never thought he would be in front of the courts but finds himself here after a significant lapse in judgement. "It's something for which he's deeply remorseful and regretful of. However he takes full responsibility. "He's had his life turned upside down by these offences. "He was put out of the family home. He has not returned; he has no chance of reconciliation with his wife, and quite frankly, he is too ashamed to try. "Similarly, the relationship he has with his two daughters is strained. "There was a lapse in judgement. His mental health prior to this offending had been significantly down. He's currently medicated for that. He doesn't see himself coming off this medication for some time. "He is a man somewhat broken by his actions." A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson told the BBC:"We recognise the profound and lasting impact such crimes have on survivors. "This individual is no longer employed by the Scottish Prison Service."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Prison officer who led sex offenders' rehab found with child abuse material
A prison officer who delivered rehabilitation courses to sex offenders has been placed on the register himself after being found with child abuse material and extreme pornography including a woman having sex with a donkey. Peter Sugden's home in Reddingmuirhead, Falkirk, was raided by police in June last year after he was caught in a 'sting' set up by so-called paedophile hunters. The 46-year-old former HMP Edinburgh officer appeared for sentence at Falkirk sheriff court on Tuesday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to communicating indecently with someone he believed to be a child called 'Abbie', but was in fact an adult female decoy named Sonia. Sugden, who works as a driver, also admitted possessing and downloading child pornography, and possessing extreme pornography including images depicting the woman engaged in sexual activity with a donkey and men engaged in sexual activity with dogs. The court heard that 12 child sexual abuse and exploitation images and one child sexual abuse and exploitation video were found. Two of the photographs were considered category A, the most serious kind. Sarah McIlwham, defending, said: 'Until the events which bring us to court today, he was a happily married man – married for over 20 years. There are two children of that union. 'Up until this offence, he'd been working in SPS as a prison officer for in excess of 22 years. 'He had a very positive upbringing. His parents are here today. These offences have caused great distress, not only to his ex-wife and daughters but also to his parents and immediate family. 'Mr Sugden is a man who never thought he would be in front of the courts but finds himself here after a significant lapse in judgment. 'It's something for which he's deeply remorseful and regretful of. However, he takes full responsibility.' Ms McIlwham said Sugden had been 'put out' of the family home with 'no chances of reconciliation with his wife' and his relationship with his two daughters was now 'strained'. Sheriff Craig Harris placed Sugden under supervision for three years and on the sex offenders register for the same period. He ordered Sugden to complete 210 hours of unpaid work in the next two years and imposed a string of conduct requirements affecting Sugden's internet use. Sheriff Harris said: 'In terms of harm, viewing, downloading and distributing indecent images of children is part of the process of child abuse. 'Those who access material bear responsibility for the abuse for creating a demand for such material. 'You worked yourself with sex offenders. You delivered a high-intensity programme.' Sugden communicated with a profile he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl from Essex during his lunch breaks. Over the course of several days, Sugden sent indecent messages and made sexual remarks towards the child decoy. On June 27 2024, he was confronted at his home by members of the online protection team, with police then called. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Telegraph
Prison officer who gave sex offenders rehab found with child abuse material
A prison officer who delivered rehabilitation courses to sex offenders has been placed on the register himself after being found with child abuse material and extreme pornography including a woman having sex with a donkey. Peter Sugden's home in Reddingmuirhead, Falkirk, was raided by police in June last year after he was caught in a 'sting' set up by so-called paedophile hunters. The 46-year-old former HMP Edinburgh officer appeared for sentence at Falkirk sheriff court on Tuesday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to communicating indecently with someone he believed to be a child called 'Abbie', but was in fact an adult female decoy named Sonia. Sugden, who works as a driver, also admitted possessing and downloading child pornography, and possessing extreme pornography including images depicting the woman engaged in sexual activity with a donkey and men engaged in sexual activity with dogs. The court heard that 12 child sexual abuse and exploitation images and one child sexual abuse and exploitation video were found. Two of the photographs were considered category A, the most serious kind. 'Happily married man' Sarah McIlwham, defending, said: 'Until the events which bring us to court today, he was a happily married man – married for over 20 years. There are two children of that union. 'Up until this offence, he'd been working in SPS as a prison officer for in excess of 22 years. 'He had a very positive upbringing. His parents are here today. These offences have caused great distress, not only to his ex-wife and daughters but also to his parents and immediate family. 'Mr Sugden is a man who never thought he would be in front of the courts but finds himself here after a significant lapse in judgement. 'It's something for which he's deeply remorseful and regretful of. However, he takes full responsibility.' Ms McIlwham said Sugden had been 'put out' of the family home with 'no chances of reconciliation with his wife' and his relationship with his two daughters was now 'strained'. Sheriff Craig Harris placed Sugden under supervision for three years and on the sex offenders register for the same period. He ordered Sugden to complete 210 hours of unpaid work in the next two years and imposed a string of strict conduct requirements affecting Sugden's internet use. Sheriff Harris said: 'In terms of harm, viewing, downloading and distributing indecent images of children is part of the process of child abuse. 'Those who access material bear responsibility for the abuse for creating a demand for such material. 'You worked yourself with sex offenders. You delivered a high-intensity programme.' Sugden communicated with a profile he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl from Essex during his lunch breaks. Over the course of several days, Sugden sent indecent messages and made sexual remarks towards the child decoy. On June 27 2024, he was confronted at his home by members of the online protection team with police then called.
