Paedophile banned from camera use

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A paedophile who took pictures of a boy being abused and distributed them round the world has been banned from owning anything capable of taking photographs.

Gordon Sheppard, 40, was also banned from Scotland's schools and play parks. The case was heard at Stirling Sheriff Court and followed Sheppard's release from a seven-year prison sentence.

The order came after a request from Central Scotland Police chief constable, Andrew Cameron, to limit Sheppard's activities.

Sheppard was initially apprehended before his 2003 trial by officers investigating online child pornography.

He was captured after local officers recognised the view from a window which featured in some of the many disturbing images he was taking and distributing.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson granted the wide-ranging order which was requested by the local force's chief constable Mr Cameron.

The order bans the former computer programmer from using a camera, mobile phone or any other equipment that can take pictures; from having any access to the Internet except in relation to employment, and then only with the permission of his bosses and the chief constable.

Not in court

It also bans him from having contact with anyone under 18; from entering any area used predominantly by children; and from being in any house where a child is present.

He must also obtain the approval of the chief constable before taking any job, and cannot use or hire any car or motor vehicle without notifying the police.

Solicitor Bruce Clayson, for the chief constable, said Sheppard, who was not present in court, had accepted the terms of the order.

Sheriff Robertson warned that the consequences for Sheppard of failing to comply with the order would be "penal".

The order was handed down at Stirling Sheriff Court

Sheppard was arrested after international investigators found more than 900 images of him and the boy on the web.

He was traced after child porn investigators at University College, Cork, Ireland, discovered the images on a website.

An Argos catalogue and a three-pin electricity plug in the background alerted police to the fact they had been taken recently and in Britain.

Around the same time, pictures of the same child dating from 2000 were discovered in New Zealand.

A selection of the images was circulated to UK police forces, and officers in Stirling recognised local landmarks which enabled them to identify the boy's school, the boy himself and, ultimately, Sheppard.

Police found 1,844 pictures of the boy on Sheppard's computer and that 912 images had been posted on the Internet.