A 28-year-old pervert caught in a police sting has been spared a jail sentence.
Fishmonger Scott Duncan had a series of graphic sexual conversations with a 14-year-old schoolgirl and sent her several vile pictures of himself during a four-week “grooming” process.
But the pervert had been caught in a police “sting” operation and had been chatting online to an undercover officer.
A first offender, he avoided prison when he appeared for sentence at Perth Sheriff Court this week.
Instead, he was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and will be supervised by a social worker for the next three years.
He also had a conduct requirement imposed, banning him from accessing any social media chatrooms for the next three years without the prior approval of his supervising officer.
He will also have to provide a list of any devices capable of accessing the internet - and submit them for inspection and examination when asked.
Duncan, of Fingask Court, Scone, admitted that on various occasions between May 3 and 30, 2018, he engaged in conversations of a sexual nature.
He then sent a video of himself masturbating, as well as photographs of a naked penis.
The accused, who was said to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, will also have to take part in the “Moving Forward, Making Changes” programme, run by the Tay Project, which aims to rehabilitate sex offenders.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described the offences as serious, not only because of the four-week time span they covered but because of the “lurid and unsavoury” content of the communications.
“You are also well aware that the person you believed you are speaking to is under 16.”
