A former Police Scotland officer who once worked as a community campus officer at two Airdrie schools has been jailed after an undercover online sting uncovered a string of sexual offences. The conviction raises fresh questions about vetting and safeguarding in school-linked roles and comes as authorities stress the importance of public confidence in policing.
Adam McManus, 40, was sentenced at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Monday after admitting offences revealed during an undercover operation. He had previously been attached to St Margaret’s High School and Airdrie Academy before moving to Cumbernauld Police Station.
Prosecutors say the initial contact began in January of last year on the messaging app Kik, where an undercover officer posing as a school-age girl disclosed her age and that she was a first-year pupil in Airdrie. Over several weeks, McManus repeatedly sought sexually explicit images and exchanged messages of a sexual nature with the decoy account.
A subsequent police search recovered McManus’s mobile phone. Forensic analysis uncovered the messages he sent to the decoy account along with **illegal images and videos** depicting the abuse of children. Authorities say investigators found 79 indecent images and 25 videos, covering the most serious categories of offending.
- Name: Adam McManus, 40
- Former roles: Community campus officer at St Margaret’s High School and Airdrie Academy; later response officer at Cumbernauld Police Station
- How he was caught: Undercover decoy on Kik; traced messages to his phone
- Evidence seized: 79 images and 25 videos (categories A–C) plus message exchanges
- Timeline of offending: Police say activity occurred between August 2023 and February 2025
- Sentence: 12 months in custody; added to the sex offenders register for 10 years
- Investigation: Part of Police Scotland’s covert programme, Operation Overview
A mother of a pupil at one of the Airdrie schools, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters she was alarmed that someone with access to children had been employed in a trusted position for years. She questioned how such behaviour was not identified earlier and called for a review of recruitment and safeguarding checks.
North Lanarkshire Council said there was no evidence any offending occurred while McManus worked as a campus officer and reiterated that robust safeguards are in place to protect young people. Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison of Police Scotland described the conduct as contrary to the service’s values and stressed the force’s commitment to high standards.
Police said the offending was uncovered as part of a focused effort to identify online child sexual abuse. Operation Overview, the unit involved, uses covert decoy accounts to detect those seeking to exploit children over the internet.
The case highlights two practical issues for schools and parents: the difficulty of spotting online grooming when material is shared privately, and the challenge of ensuring thorough background checks for adults working in or alongside schools. Local authorities and police typically point to multi-layered safeguarding policies, but critics argue each incident requires a fresh look at whether those systems are working.
Legal and safeguarding outcomes in this case include McManus’s custodial sentence and registration as a sexual offender. The conviction may prompt internal reviews of recruitment and oversight for officers attached to community and school settings.
What this means going forward:
- Parents may seek reassurance from schools and local authorities about vetting and supervision of campus-based officers and other external staff.
- Schools could review access controls and reporting pathways for concerns about staff conduct.
- Police forces are likely to emphasise the continued role of covert digital investigations while balancing transparency about officer recruitment and discipline.
Those with concerns about a child’s safety are advised to contact their local authorities or police. The Crown and police continue to investigate and take action where further offences or suspects are identified.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
