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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Hamish Morrison

Ex-SNP councillor caged for sex attacks on children

A FORMER SNP councillor has been jailed for six years for sex attacks against a number of children.

Mark Kerr, who represented Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire, was found guilty of nine charges involving teenage boys carried out between May 2012 and May 2020.

He has also been placed on the sex offenders register after a trial at the High Court in Paisley.

Kerr (above) was found guilty on November 4 and was sentenced on Friday.

Police Scotland welcomed his sentencing, saying the ex-politician “betrayed” the trust of his young victims.

Detective Inspector Colin Moffat, of Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Kerr was in a position of responsibility and trust as a local politician but he prayed on teenagers, one of whom he met at an official function. He befriended them and betrayed them.

“I welcome his conviction and placement on the Sexual Offenders Register.

"Our thoughts are very much with his victims and their bravery in coming forward is commended. I hope they now get some closure with his sentencing.

“Tackling sexual crime is a top priority for Police Scotland and we will work to remove offenders like Kerr from our communities.

“I would urge anyone who has or is the subject of any form of abuse to get in touch with us. We have specialist officers who can assist, no matter when something happened.

“You can call us on 101 or make a call to the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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