Elite unit’s high-tech snare for online perverts.
Twisted predators who trick their victims into performing sex acts online and then blackmail them are being snared thanks to a treasure trove of electronic evidence.
Senior prosecutor Alison Di Rollo, the head of Scotland’s elite National Sex Crimes Unit (NSCU), has revealed increasing numbers of perverts are admitting their guilt before going to trial.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Post, the experienced advocate also told how the Savile scandal had increased confidence amongst victims to come forward but warned there was still work to be done.
She said: “Cases involving online offenders are technically good to prosecute because they’re evidentially very rich. Mobile phones, computers and tablets all hold the type information we are desperate for.
“There have been numerous serial offenders, indicted for dozens of offences from dozens of complainers because of the volume of evidence.
“However, it does represent a challenge for the police’s technical people and we have to keep up with changes and how to get the evidence.
“Despite the successes, the whole cyber world represents a very real danger for kids.”
Former staff nurse Barry McCluskey admitted pretending to be a teenage lesbian in order to prey on 49 young girls on social networking sites.
The 42-year-old posed as a girl called Clare, or Missy, and used a profile picture of a young female to trawl in the internet for victims.
Di Rollo, who prosecuted the case, said: “The proof of how well the NSCU is doing is reflected in the amount of guilty pleas we are getting before going to trial.
“Barry McCluskey was a very good example of that. He went online, pretended to be a female and induced dozens to perform desperate stuff on webcams, under threat of publication to their peers.
“However, what we also see at the NSCU dealing with these types of cases is the existence of a real underlying social issue.”
Over the past 12 months a spate of high profile abuse cases, including showbiz stars Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall, as well allegations relating to Fort Augusts Abbey School have dominated the headlines.
While the former director of public prosecutions in England, Keir Starmer has called for teachers and health workers to be prosecuted for failing to alert the police to claims of child abuse.
Di Rollo recognises some allegations are not being dealt with quickly enough.
She explained: “My sense is there is more reporting of child abuse because we, as a society, are less prepared to tolerate it.
“There is greater alertness by authorities, carers, and doctors to bring these sort of allegations to the attention of the police. I say this aware of Keir Starmer’s comments.
“However, I still encounter situations where children disclose but it is not immediately brought to the attention of the police.
“So I think there still are challenges there because the children are fearful about the matter being reported.”
Di Rollo, who has been with the NSCU for three years, said: “There was one boy I took evidence from who was describing being sexually assaulted on Christmas Eve by his own father. That was bad enough.
“He said that he “felt so helpless”. I found it very moving.
“We see the hurt, the damage and the trauma that people have gone through but have to remain focused on the job of prosecution. But we get strength and support from each other. We are all in the same boat and have the same experiences.
“It’s so important for Scotland as a society for the NSCU to do what we do well.”
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