A Tory councillor has been suspended by his party and ordered to resign after appearing in court charged with possessing inappropriate images of children.
Former music teacher Michael Jamieson, who represents Perth City South, is accused of having indecent files on his home computer.
The 69-year-old made no plea when he appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court on Friday afternoon. The charge relates to allegations between November 2015 and March 2016, although the number of images in the single charge has not been disclosed.
Mr Jamieson, an ex rotary club president, was released on bail.
Sheriff Michael Wood included an interim internet ban as part of Jamieson’s bail conditions. A date for a follow-up court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
Council boss Ian Campbell, leader of the Tory-led administration said: “I have demanded the resignation of councillor Jamieson and he has agreed to this.
“I expect to have his resignation letter on my desk on Monday morning.”
A Scottish Conservatives spokesman confirmed they had taken action in light of the allegations. “As soon as the party became aware of these allegations councillor Jamieson was suspended, pending the outcome of this case,” he said.
Mr Jamieson, who became a councillor in May, is secretary of Perform in Perth, a two week festival held each year involving nearly 4,000 young performers from across the region.
He recently stood down as president of Perth Rotary Club, a position he took over in 2015 after previously serving between 2006 and 2007.
Mr Jamieson was voted in to the Perth City South ward during this summer’s local government elections with 1,757 votes.
In an online biography, he wrote: “My background in the entertainment industry and as a music teacher has given me great experience in dealing with people in both the public and private sector.
“I worked for Perth and Kinross Council Instrumental Music Service, administer Perform in Perth and serve on many national music festival committees. Locally, I am twice past president of the Rotary Club of Perth St Johns.
“My key focus will be the residents of Perth City South and education, in particular the instrumental music service which has suffered many threats recently.”
His priorities for the area included campaigning to bring in more businesses to Perth, working to give children the “best education” and addressing city centre traffic and parking problems.
Most recently he was involved in a consultation on a review of local Stagecoach bus services and he also worked with fellow ward councillors to assure Jeanfield Road residents about parking concerns at the site of a new mosque.
