RAF Serviceman Faces Jail Over Online Grooming

An RAF serviceman is facing jail after admitting having under age girls strip off for him on online chat services from his room at Leuchars airbase.

Chesney Wallbank was caught after he was accused of falsifying documents that would allow him to be involved in the "physical training" of Air Cadets aged 13 and over.

The 23 year old had a series of young girls pose via webcams after approaching them through Skype, Yahoo Chat and Windows Live Messenger.

He now faces jail after a sheriff branded the case "worrying" and "troubling".

Wallbank turned up to court accompanied by a commanding officer, and could face being dismissed by the RAF after he is sentenced.

Fiscal depute Vicky Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court: "His room was searched by RAF Police in relation to an internal matter concerning him allegedly falsifying documents in order to allow him to be involved in physical training of air cadets.

"His laptop was seized and examination revealed indecent images within.

"The images were found within a temporary storage area used by Windows Live Messenger.

"Chat logs were recovered and show the accused asking for 'pics' and asking for 'pics' of young girls 12-13.

"A total of 10 indecent images were found.

Comments in the chat logs show girls spurning his advances.

"He had not been allowed to do the Air Cadets training due to concerns other than this", added Ms Bell.

"It allegedly transpired that he had falsified documents in order to facilitate involvement with cadets and that is what ultimately led to the finding of these images."

Defence solicitor Iain Flynn said: "He is due to be transferred to RAF Coningsby in England later this year if he is still a serving member of the RAF.

"He had a previous incident where he received a financial penalty under the Armed Forces Act for wearing corporal's stripes when he wasn't a corporal."

Sheriff Alistair Brown deferred sentence until June for social work background reports and released him on bail until then.

He said: "It is troubling that this is a true case of production in which he has requested people to pose effectively.

"The interest he has shown in the physical training of Air Cadets is worrying."