Former Moray councillor Sean Morton sentenced for child images

Sean Morton admitted the offences

A former Moray councillor who admitted indecent child image offences has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Sean Morton, 36, who was the Scottish Labour councillor for Fochabers and Lhanbryde, previously admitted two charges at Elgin Sheriff Court.

One involved indecent images of children while the other concerned extreme pornography.

He was given a community payback order which includes 140 hours of unpaid work within nine months.

Morton received a three-year supervision order, and has also been placed on the sex offenders register.

Labour previously said Morton was no longer a party member.

The offences happened in 2013 and Morton first appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court on Christmas Eve in 2016.

'Felt revulsion'

In a statement, he said that in November last year, more than a year after the investigation began, he had been told how seven indecent images had come into his possession.

"These were sent to me anonymously," he said.

"I realised I hadn't been as careful about who I spoke to online as I would be in my everyday life.

"I felt revulsion at what had happened and immediately felt I must accept my guilt.

"I wish with all my heart the sender never sent the images. I wish I had been less careless and much more guarded online."

Morton added: "To the police and crown prosecution service, whose job it is to take accusations of these sorts very seriously, thank you for giving this the due diligence the public would expect.

"To those of you who were disappointed, angry and hurt by what you read - I'm sorry. I completely understand."