Paedophile has jail sentence cut

Ross Webber had his jail term cut by 13 months on appeal

A member of Scotland's biggest paedophile network has had his sentence cut by 13 months.

Ross Webber, 28, a bank worker from East Lothian, received eight years and nine months in June 2009 for his involvement in the gang.

Another member of the network, John Milligan, 41, was refused his appeal by judges in Edinburgh.

Judge Lord Osborne told Milligan his conviction had "involved a conspiracy to sexually assault children in the most appalling ways."

Milligan, a civil servant from Glasgow, was jailed for 17 years. He had been found in possession of more than 78,000 indecent images.

Webber's defence advocate Maggie Scott QC told the appeal judges he could be considered as separate entirely from his co-accused and that his original sentence was excessive.

Lord Osborne ruled Webber's sentence should be cut.

Eight men were convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh last year of a series of charges.

The two worst offenders were Neil Strachan, 42, and James Rennie, 39, both of Edinburgh, who had committed actual abuse against youngsters.

They were given life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years and 13 years respectively.

Lothian and Borders Police's Operation Algebra began in late 2007 when a computer, linked to Strachan through his work with a paint firm, was sent for repair and indecent images were found stored on it.

Inquiries led to Rennie, then chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, an organisation which counselled young people with sexuality difficulties, and raids were carried out on the homes of the other six men.