A popular Moray councillor has been suspended from the Scottish Labour Party after appearing in court over child porn charges.
Former general election candidate Sean Morton appeared in private at Elgin Sheriff Court on Christmas Eve to face accusations including “distributing or showing” indecent images of children.
He made no plea or declaration to a total of four charges all relating to obscene images and pornography.
One of the charges relates to taking, permitting to be taken, or making indecent images of a child; a second concerns possession of such photos, while a third relates to “distributing or showing” the pictures.
The final charge relates to Morton allegedly being in possession of “extreme pornography”.
The 35-year-old previously served as the Moray spokesman of the youth services branch but Labour bosses said last night he had been “suspended with immediate effect”.
Morton, of Lhanbryde, finished third as candidate in both the 2015 Westminster election and last year’s Holyrood poll.
He was elected in 2012 to the Fochabers, Llhanbryde and Spey Coast ward after previously working as a parliamentary researcher for the party.
The Crown Office confirmed Morton appeared on petition and was committed for further examination and bailed. No date for his next appearance has been set.
Morton said he would fight to prove his innocence in court, and aimed to continue as a councillor.
He said: “I am heartbroken by the allegations against me but I am comforted by the messages of support from so many people. Thank you for having faith in me.
“I don’t know what this is all based on and I will fight these allegations with everything I have.
“I will go on fighting for the people I represent as a councillor and will fight to be elected by my community again in May”