Councillor Craig Edward: Pervert in the halls of power

The details of just a few of the abuse pictures and videos were read out in court, but can't be printed because they are too extreme.

But as well as a baby, clearly in "distress", others showed children aged five and six.

All the while, Edward had a child PVG certificate.

Edward pleaded guilty on February 14 to three sexual offences that cover his time as a community councillor, housing association chairman, political campaigner for the SNP and Labour, and an elected councillor.

He only got caught when he was found sharing indecent images with others offering to "trade".

The 34-year-old remains the independent councillor for Clydebank Central despite now living in England. He did not reply when confronted outside court asking if he would resign.

Fiscal depute Dana Barclay told the court that Edward was a councillor in the town and held several positions as well as a child PVG certificate.

He appeared to cops working with Operation NOCAP (National Online Child Abuse Prevention) with reliable evidence that between September 20 and 22, 2022, a device was conntected to the internet that allowed images to be shared.

A search warrant found an iPhone 10 in a blue case with child sexual exploitation and abuse images.

That included 599 still images, with 69 at the most serious category A level, such as one involving a child of five or six years old with the words "f*** me" written on them.

There were another 69 at category B, again including a child of that age.

And the other 462 were category C.

There were 93 videos, all dated between September 22, 2021 and September 21, 2022.

Of those, 67 were at the most serious category A. One showed a baby, "alarmed and distressed".

Another 19 were at category B, including a child that appeared to be asleep. And seven were category C, including a teenaged boy in a changing area.

Councillor Craig Edward tries to hide his face (Image: Newsquest)

The investigation found 55 identified contacts in a group on the app Telegram. Edward would initiate a conversation with the word "trade".

He did that 15 times and six contacts participated in the trade of images.

The court was told police are investigating those contacts.

Edward showed no emotion as he pleaded guilty to three charges.

On various occasions between March 6, 2016, and September 26, 2022, Edward did take or permit to be taken or make indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children at an address in Crown Avenue.

He also had possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children in the same period.

And on various occasions between September 20, 2022, and September 22, 2022, he did distribute or show indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry called it "about as bad a narrative as I have ever heard".

He said: "He should take time to go home and make sure his affairs are in order."

Edward is now subject to the notification requirements of the sex offenders register and will be sentenced next month.

He first appeared in court over the charges on September 27, 2022 when he was suspended by Scottish Labour.

But he stayed an elected councillor, appearing remotely to meetings, commenting in debates.

In the shadow of the West Dunbartonshire Council headquarters next to the court, Edward sped away after his hearing in a taxi.

He refused to respond when asked if he would apologise to the people in Clydebank.

For years, he ingratiated himself with local groups, campaigning and the Post. He regularly contacted reporters and was available for comment on matters of concern in the town ranging from potholes to mental health to housing issues.

And even while facing serious criminal charges, Edward has continued to put himself in the public eye.

Though his Twitter account is locked to private, he was tweeting on local and national politics as late as January 2024.

And after fleeing Clydebank for Wiltshire, he got a job as an area manager for the British Parking Association (BPA). He was even pictured in December giving an award for a Slough car park.

After being contacted by the Post after his conviction and refusing to comment, BPA deleted the press release and the profile of Edward. His bio on the site highlighted all his community work - but omitted that he was Scottish or a councillor.

In June 2015, Edward was a founding member of Dalmuir and Mountblow Community Council and was elected as its first chairman, then later switching to vice-chairman.

He tried to be selected for the SNP in the 2017 council elections but was rejected and then switched to Labour.

In 2017, he was chairman of the Dalmuir Multi Storey Flats TRA.

In November 2020 he was elected as chair of Dalmuir Park Housing Association.

He was on the board of the Stepping Stones mental health charity in Clydebank.

In the early weeks of the Covid pandemic, he worked as a cleaner for the NHS.

He made petitions to the Scottish Parliament over vaping-related illnesses and deaths.

Edward was elected as a Labour councillor in May 2022 after five years of helping multiple Labour campaigns.

After Labour retook the council from the SNP, he was made convenor for housing and communities.

In that position he was photographed and quoted at events such as Linnvale Gala Day in June 2022, weeks before his arrest. He also visited Clyde Shopmobility and Awestruck Academy. He did a Drumry walkabout with residents in August.

Edward, who used the email handle "craigFBI" for years, remains on bail to his home in England until sentencing.