ALAN NARDONI FROM CUMBERNAULD AND KILMARNOCK STRUCK OFF AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN PORTLETHEN AND ABERDEEN

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Scottish educational community, Alan Nardoni, a teacher with connections to Cumbernauld, Kilmarnock, and Portlethen Academy, has been formally removed from the teaching register following his conviction related to the possession and distribution of thousands of child abuse images. The heinous nature of his crimes, which spanned over six years and involved multiple locations, has prompted serious concerns about safeguarding and the safety of children in his professional and personal circles.

Alan Nardoni, who was employed at Portlethen Academy and also served as a coach for the under-14 boys' football team, was found to have downloaded numerous indecent images onto a computer that he used for school-related activities. The images, which included some of the most severe forms of abuse, were described by a sheriff as “truly dreadful,” highlighting the disturbing content that Nardoni had accumulated. The court proceedings revealed that Nardoni’s activities came to light after police investigations uncovered his involvement in the distribution and possession of these illegal images.

Last year, Nardoni was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Inverness Sheriff Court. The court heard that despite being aware of an investigation into his activities, he continued to download and collect more images, even after he had appeared in court on a petition in January 2012 and was released on bail. The images included some depicting the sexual abuse of infants, with Sheriff Margaret Neilson describing the material as “probably the worst I have ever encountered.” She emphasized the grave harm inflicted upon the victims, stating, “This is not a victimless crime. Each and every one of these children has suffered abuse, in some cases absolutely horrific abuse, and the physical and emotional damage they have suffered is difficult to imagine.”

Investigations traced Nardoni’s activities back to 2006, when police in Strathclyde were alerted to an image downloaded from a website used for exchanging indecent images of children, linked to an IP address registered to his home in Cumbernauld. Despite this early warning, no immediate action was taken at that time. The police later identified continued activity from his addresses in Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, leading to a warrant being executed in August 2011, during which a variety of computer equipment, including laptops, memory sticks, CDs, and DVDs, were seized.

Throughout the investigation, it was established that Nardoni possessed at least 1,141 videos and 5,904 images, which contained some of the most serious forms of abuse involving girls and boys aged between one and fifteen years old. The collection also included videos of baby boys being sexually assaulted. The court was informed that Nardoni had been involved in these activities from February 2006 until August 2012, with offenses committed at multiple addresses in Cumbernauld, Kilmarnock, and Aberdeen.

The court also heard that Nardoni’s actions persisted even after he was placed under investigation, demonstrating a high risk of causing further harm. His continued offending, despite knowing he was under scrutiny, underscored the severity of his breach of trust, especially given his role as an educator and coach working with children. Sheriff Neilson remarked on the betrayal of trust, noting that Nardoni even involved his family by borrowing his sister’s laptop, although they were entirely innocent and unaware of his illicit activities.

Following his conviction, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has referred Nardoni’s case to Scottish ministers, who will decide whether he should be permanently barred from working with children. Meanwhile, Aberdeenshire Council confirmed that Nardoni had been assigned to alternative duties away from the classroom and had no contact with children during the investigation. The council also stated that, following his admissions, disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against him. The case has raised serious questions about safeguarding protocols and the importance of early intervention in cases of suspected child exploitation, emphasizing the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from individuals in positions of trust.