Police have welcomed the sentencing of a former SNP North Lanarkshire councillor who groomed and abused a number of teenage boys.
Mark Kerr was jailed for six years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register at the High Court in Paisley.
The ex-Councilman was found guilty of nine charges which took place in Lanarkshire between May 2012 and May 2020 including an attempted rape at his home in Croy.
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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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