Charges against a Perth man, accused of sending a vile picture to a girl almost half his age - and then asking her to send him images of her in her underwear - were dropped this week.
Graham Mulholland (27), of Rannoch Road, was also said to have induced the 15-year-old to send him photos of her naked body to obtain sexual gratification.
And, in addition, he faced further counts of having indecent photographs of children in his possession - and also taking child porn abuse pictures - when he appeared on indictment at Perth Sheriff Court.
But depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson indicated this week the Crown was deserting the case - at least for the time being.
The move allows prosecutors the opportunity to serve a fresh indictment on the accused at a later date if they so decide.
At a previous hearing, lawyer Billy Somerville successfully asked the court to defer matters to enable a psychiatrist to have a further consultation with his client.
It was alleged that between April 23 and May 1, 2016, at his home, Mulholland intentionally sent a written sexual communication to the teenager, causing her to look at sexual images and participate in sexual activity, via social media platforms and text messages.
It is alleged that he sent an image of a naked penis to her, asking her if she wanted to engage in sexual activity with him. The charge also stated he requested she carry out a sex act on herself with a sex toy and that she send him images of her in her underwear.
He was further accused of inducing her to send him pictures of her naked body, for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or humiliating, distressing or alarming the teenager.
A further charge claimed that between December 29, 2015, and July 27, 2016, again at his home, he took, or permitted to be taken - or made - indecent photographs of children.
A third charge alleged that between July 17 and 27, 2016, he had indecent photographs of children at his home.
Mulholland walked free from the court after the charges were dropped.
