The details of 70 more people have been passed on to police forces around the UK by the officers who secured the conviction of Scotland’s biggest paedophile ring.
Detective Superintendent Allan Jones, of Lothian and Borders Police, said that as a result of the inquiry, more than 35 people have been arrested or were subject to enforcement action, while two further Scottish investigations are continuing.
Mr Jones, the senior investigating officer, said: “This case, known as Operation Algebra, was one of the biggest and most challenging investigated by the force and represented the largest paedophile network dismantled in Scotland.
“As the investigation unfolded it revealed a web of people who had a common interest in child sexual abuse. They made initial contact via the internet and used it to share vile imagery and discuss the abuse of children.”
Apart from Neil Strachan – a registered sex offender since the 1990s over other child abuse offences – none of the other accused were known to the police.
Mr Jones said: “All led classic double lives. Some of them were respected members of their professions and communities.
“As a result of this inquiry, information on around 70 other people was sent to forces throughout the UK and resulted in numerous arrests.”
He said of Strachan: “We do know of Strachan. We’re aware that he did present himself as an individual who was rehabilitating himself. Quite clearly, he wasn’t.
“He was very furtive in a lot of his dealings with the police.”
The officer added that the expertise provided by the likes of the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the FBI and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre was “invaluable” in bringing the gang to justice.
The officer expressed a hope that the child victims in this case would go on to enjoy normal family lives.
“Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families who have gone through untold trauma as a result of these despicable acts,” he said.
“It is every parent’s nightmare that their children have been abused and they knew nothing about it.
“It is even more daunting that, due to their young age, these children were not able to communicate what was happening to them.”