A FORMER SNP social work committee convenor was at the centre of a blackmail plot after it was revealed his wife was a £100-an-hour escort.
Keith Robertson, 60, who formerly served on Perth and Kinross Council and his wife Jean, 57, faced demands for £4000 from Alan Hurren who also wanted "sexual favours" to keep the vice job quiet.
Businessman Hurren, 63, of Falkirk has been convicted of trying to extort sex and cash from Mrs Robertson and her wheelchair-bound husband from Auchterarder in Perthshire.
Defence solicitor Billy Somerville said Hurren had passed a letter to the court which highlighted Jean’s online “work”. He also said Hurren kept pictures of the vice worker from the website which clearly identified her,.
Mr Somerville said: “Inquiries were made at adultwork.com and with the profile for Maurin to confirm they were the complainer.
“In an interview for this case, Mrs Robertson does appear also to confirm she is one and the same. At the time he was interviewed by police, Mr Hurren did provide a print-out captured from the website.”
In her R-rated online profile, Maurin claims she is “highly sexed” and prepared to meet men, women, disabled punters and gay couples.
She promises she will “shudder with pleasure” during £100-an-hour sessions with "confidentiality and discretion assured".
Customers are also told they can hire Maurin overnight for £600 and that she works in Perth, Stirling, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and the Central Belt.
Hurren pleaded guilty to trying to extort sexual favours and cash between November 21 and December 1, 2015.
He also admitted putting the Robertsons in a state of fear and alarm.
Former Royal Navy man Mr Robertson served as a SNP councillor between 1995 and 1999 and had represented the Auchterarder East seat. He was formerly the social work committee convenor.
He was chairman of Perth and Kinross Access Group and also worked with Perth Shopmobility and other voluntary organisations. He addressed Holyrood in his role as access development officer with Scottish Disability Equality Forum.
His online business profile states he is now general manager of not-for-profit organisation Wheelchairs for Ukraine.
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence on Hurren for reports.
He told Hurren: “I cannot deal with this case today because of the nature of it. On the face of it, it is a serious matter.”
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