The leader of the national support organisation for Scotland's young lesbian, gay and bisexual community is being held in custody after being charged with offences relating to child pornography, it emerged last night.

Officials at the Crown Office confirmed Jamie Rennie, chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, an organisation dedicated to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in the life of Scotland, has been remanded on a charge of possession of indecent images of a child or children under the age of 18.

He also faces a charge of sending a message that is grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing. Mr Rennie, 37, from Edinburgh, appeared on petition on December 17 and was committed for trial on Christmas Eve, the Crown Office said.

The trained teacher and youth worker is the former manager of the Stonewall Youth Project, which supports gay, lesbian and bisexual schoolchildren who face bullying and abuse.

Services provided by LGBT Youth Scotland includes the provision of several youth drop-ins across Scotland where young LGBT people aged 14 to 25 can meet and socialise as well as access services such as advice.

Mr Rennie is the chair of the National Voluntary Youth Work Organisations' Chief Officers Group, the NHS LGBT Health Forum and the Lothian Association of Youth Clubs.

He also serves on the Policy Committee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.