A teacher kept photographs of primary school children for sexual gratification while working at a Lanarkshire primary school.
Burns' disturbing cache was discovered when police went to his home in Stonehouse as part of a wider investigation into a South African website. Examination of an iPad and hard drive by police revealed 2447 pictures of children taken in the school gymnasium over an eight-year period. Some of the images had been photoshopped, with the gym background replaced with that of a sports field.
"They are distasteful and disturbing, particularly when taking into account the fact that Mr Burns had some 30 years working with children of that age. He took an enormous number of photos and he wasn't even a PE teacher." Andy Brophy, defending Burns, argued that a breach of the peace could not be established as there was no "public element" to Burns' behaviour.
Sentence on the first offender was deferred until later this month for a criminal justice social work report and an electronic tagging assessment. The sheriff will also decide if Burns should be put on the sex offenders' register.
Straight to Bar L, do not pass go, do not collect 200 Scottish sheckles