​Former charity worker sentenced to 200 hours community service and placed on the sex offenders register

A youth worker who admitted downloading child abuse images has escaped a jail term.

Matthew Lynch, 24, of Calder Grove, Edinburgh, was sentenced to 200 hours community service and placed on the sex offenders register for 30 months by Sheriff Alastair Carmichael at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Lynch had pled guilty to downloading indecent images between March 17 and November 17 last year and distributing them on 23 March last year at an address in Dundee’s Portpatrick Terrace.

These were extremely worrying offences that involved images of children being abused

A police examination of his computer found six images depicting boys aged between three and six years old from Skype as well as records of conversations where he discussed abusing children.

Sheriff Carmichael also ordered Lynch to be subjected to two-and-a-half years of supervision, ordered him to take part in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation programme and conduct requirements around his contact with children and internet use.

When sentencing him Carmichael described the offences as serious but said they could be dealt with by imposing the community payback order.

It is understood Lynch previously worked as an assistant youth worker at Dundee Carers Centre but left the charity when he his computer equipment was seized by the police last November.

The charity, which offers support to carers, declined to comment when contacted by TFN.

A spokesman for NSPCC Scotland, which specialises in child protection, said it was vital that Lynch was brought to court.

"These were extremely worrying offences that involved images of children being abused,” he said.

"These are real children and behind every single one of these pictures is a young victim who will need considerable support to recover from the crimes inflicted on them.

"Possessing and distributing indecent images of children is an appalling crime. It's vital that police continue to investigate those responsible and bring them to court and people on the sex offenders' register for crimes of this nature must be strictly monitored."