ROGER MOULT FROM MONTROSE ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE MASSIVE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE COLLECTION IN ARBROATH

In a case that has shocked the local community, Roger Moult, a senior teacher from Montrose, has narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of an extensive and disturbing collection of child abuse images and extreme pornography. Moult, who served as the head of the computing department at Arbroath Academy and also held the position of chairman within a church organization, concealed a dark secret that spanned nearly a decade.

According to court proceedings, Moult had downloaded a staggering total of 22,492 indecent images of children, along with 54 videos depicting child abuse. His collection also included a disturbing array of extreme pornography, featuring images of women engaged in sexual acts with animals such as dogs and horses. The authorities uncovered this illicit material during a police raid on his residence in Montrose’s High Street on March 6 of the previous year.

The investigation was initiated after police were alerted to suspicious activity involving Moult’s credit card. It was discovered that he had purchased DVDs from a Canadian website claiming to offer “naturist” videos. However, the authorities found that the DVDs actually contained footage of naked children, raising serious concerns about his activities. During the raid, police seized a total of 25 computer devices from Moult’s home, each of which contained evidence of his illicit collection.

Prosecutor Kirsten Thomson revealed that the house was in a state of extreme disarray, with pornography and related materials scattered throughout every room. The police found magazines, DVDs, and videos, all of which contributed to the disturbing picture of Moult’s activities. The investigation uncovered that his collection of indecent images of children had been accumulated over a period of more than nine years, from January 8, 2005, to March 5, 2014. Additionally, his possession of extreme pornography, including images of bestiality, was also established within the same timeframe.

It is understood that Moult is no longer employed at Arbroath Academy. During the court hearing, the fiscal depute, Eilidh Robertson, indicated that a detailed account of the number and severity of the images would be provided at the sentencing hearing scheduled for January. Moult, aged 64, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and extreme pornography. The charges covered the period from January 8, 2005, to March 5, 2014, for the child abuse images, and from January 24, 2012, to March 5, 2014, for the extreme material.

Represented by solicitor Norman Fraser, Moult reserved his plea in mitigation, and the court, presided over by Sheriff Alistair Brown, deferred sentencing to allow for a criminal justice social work report. Despite the gravity of his offenses, Moult was placed on the sex offenders register and released on bail. He is expected to return to court early next year, where he may face a jail sentence, though he has so far avoided immediate imprisonment.