YOUTH football bosses have been investigating a Linnvale pervert – a former match secretary – who was snared downloading child abuse images.

Ryan Cullen, 25, has avoided a jail sentence as a first offender and was put on the sex offenders register for three years.

He previously pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the creation and possession of indecent images of children at a property in Greenwood Quadrant between June 2015 and November 2018.

The Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA) said they have been looking into the case because of Cullen’s past role with the Dunbartonshire Youth Football Development League (DYFD).

He was also previously involved in Clydebank Boys Club as secretary, but left more than four years ago.

The SYFA suspended Cullen in January following notification from Disclosure Scotland of the allegations.

Cullen told the Post he had left youth football before the court case.

On Tuesday, the SYFA said: “Having spoken to the current and former league secretaries, they have confirmed that no concerns were raised with them about Cullen’s behaviour or actions relating to his former position at the league.

“While we are aware none of these charges relate to Cullen’s involvement with the SYFA’s member league, we utterly condemn his despicable actions and wish to underline child wellbeing and protection will continue to be our priority.”

Cullen was listed on the website of Dunbartonshire Youth Football Development League until recently. It changed its name to Dunbartonshire Youth Football League in May 2018. They deferred questions yesterday to the SYFA.

Cullen returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week for sentencing.

Police turned up at Cullen’s home on November 27 and seized a hard drive, a tower unit and a black laptop. Officers found items on the devices included moving and still images at category A (the most serious), B and C, and videos up to 57 minutes long.

Defence solicitor Brian McGuire said last week his client had lost his job as a result of his crime.

He added: He has been having difficulty with coming to terms with and accepting his sexuality. He should have had nothing to fear but in his mind that was the situation and that’s how he went about dealing with these issues.”

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Sheriff William Gallacher said: “These are not offences that occur in isolation. They involved harm, albeit one or two steps removed.”

Sheriff Gallacher put Cullen on a three-year community payback order. There is a conduct requirement for inspection of any electronic device and he must not delete any of his history. Cullen must also do 250 hours of unpaid work.

A spokesman for NSPCC Scotland said: “He chose to download images and videos of children being abused, fuelling the demand for this deplorable industry that thrives on suffering.”