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The parents of two children attacked by Strachan faced further heartache. Strachan is HIV positive and the children had to be tested for the virus.

“The anguish I feel towards Mr Strachan is indescribable,” said the boys’ mother. “I feel that no matter what punishment given to Mr Strachan it will never be able to compensate for the hurt, devastation and great deal of stress brought to me and my family.”

Detective Superintendent Allan Jones, of Lothian & Borders Police, said that the case was one of the most challenging to be investigated by the force and “represented the largest paedophile network dismantled in Scotland”.

“As the investigation unfolded it revealed a web of people who had a common interest in child sexual abuse. They made initial contact via the internet and used it to share vile imagery and discuss the abuse of children,” he said.

He said of the abusers: “All led classic double lives. Some of them were respected members of their professions and communities.

All eight men who were convicted yesterday will be sentenced next month.

The convicted and their crimes

Neil Strachan 41, paint company engineer. Sex attacks on children; conspiracy to abuse children; owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse

James Rennie 38, gay rights campaigner. Sex attacks on children; conspiracy to abuse children; owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse; attempting to defeat the ends of justice by accessing insecure internet connections

Ross Webber 27, bank clerk. Conspiracy to abuse children; owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse

Craig Boath 24, insurance worker. Conspiracy to abuse children; owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse

John Milligan 40, civil servant. Conspiracy to abuse children; owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse

Colin Slaven 23, IT worker. Owning and making images of child-sex abuse

Neil Campbell 46, church elder. Owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse

John Murphy 44, former teacher. Owning, making and distributing images of child-sex abuse

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