Men jailed for role in paedophile ring

Six men were jailed today for their involvement in a paedophile ring.

The men were part of what is believed to be Scotland's biggest child pornography and abuse network.

Ross Webber, 27, of North Berwick, Craig Boath, 24, from Dundee, Colin Slaven, 24, from Edinburgh, and John Milligan, 40, Neil Campbell, 46, and John Murphy, 44, all from Glasgow, were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh.

They received sentences ranging between two and 17 years.

Two other members of the gang, sex offender Neil Strachan, 41, and gay youth worker James Rennie, 38, will be sentenced at a later date for more serious charges - including the abuse of a three-month-old baby.

The eight men, traced through their sordid internet chats, were found guilty last month after a 10-week trial.

Nearly 125,000 indecent images were seized during Operation Algebra, which uncovered the group, believed to be Scotland's biggest paedophile network.

Webber, Boath and Milligan were also found guilty of conspiring to participate in the sexual abuse of children, as were Strachan and Rennie.

Civil servant Milligan received the longest custodial sentence of all six men, amounting to 17 years behind bars.

Insurance worker Boath was jailed for nine years and nine months, while bank teller Webber was locked up for eight years and nine months.

All three were convicted of plotting to participate in the sexual abuse of youngsters, in addition to child porn charges.

IT worker Slaven was jailed for three years - a year of which was for contempt of court after he turned up drunk at court towards the end of the trial.

Cake firm manager Campbell was ordered to spend three years and four months behind bars.

Murphy, a receptionist in a sauna, was jailed for two years.