FORMER MORAY COUNCILLOR Sean Morton reappeared at Elgin Sheriff Court this morning where he pled guilty to being in possession of images of children.
Morton, 36, represented the Fochabers/Lhanbryde ward until May this year. He had previously been suspended from the Labour party when the accusations first emerged, and subsequently lost his place on the Council when he ran as an Independent candidate for the same ward.
He had hoped to escape charges when the prosecutors requested more time to study forensic reports on images found on his computer – however, when he reappeared today he entered a guilty plea.
The court heard from Morton’s defence agent, Laura Greer, that the case had been resolved after the disclosure of a further computer forensic report ten days ago.
Alison Young, the Fiscal Depute, informed the court that four images had been discovered of girls aged between 10 and 15 that were dated November 11, 2013. These were on an Apple MacBook owned by Morton in a back-up iTunes file.
In the same back-up there were three images of men and women engaging in sexual activities with an animal, the court was told.
Morton was place on the sex offenders register immediately with sentence deferred to allow the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a psychological assessment report. Morton will return for sentencing on January 11.