School babysitter on child porn rap

Apr 20 2008 By Marion Scott And Grace Macaskill

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A CHURCH elder who ran an after-school babysitting service has been charged with taking indecent pictures of children.

Neil Campbell, 45, is also accused of distributing inappropriate photos of youngsters.

The Sunday Mail can today reveal he once looked after kids as young as four.

Campbell was held at Greenock Prison for a week after an investigation by police.

Last night parents at the Jordanhill Out of School Service in Glasgow, where Campbell was a play assistant, were in shock.

One mum said: "Everyone is stunned.

Campbell is one of the most respected and trusted elders in the church."

The service's manager Anne Dick said: "We were shocked to hear Mr Campbell faces these very serious charges."

We can also reveal Campbell advertises for gay sex on the internet - despite being married to wife Helen, 49.

He has posted his picture on networking site Gaydar, where he describes himself a "bisexual", says he likes men in uniform and claims to be single. When parents at Jordanhill School set up an out-of-hours service at their parish church, Campbell, of Bearsden, near Glasgow, offered to help.

He passed background checks by Disclosure Scotland and was entrusted to look after children in 2005 - but quit a year later.

A source said: "Nobody can believe this. He and wife Helen have been heavily involved in the church for years.

"The police said Helen knew nothing about the allegations. She is devastated."

Campbell appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on April 1 charged with taking pictures of children, possessing photos and distributing them.

He has been suspended as an elder at Jordanhill Parish Church.

Minister Colin Renwick said: "The elders are shocked and saddened."