A bearded pervert live-streamed on Facebook by paedophile hunters as he turned up at a superstore to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex was jailed for a year today.
Steven Penman, a 52-year-old father-of-three, asked the "youngster" - who was in fact an adult decoy posing as a young schoolgirl called "Jessie" on social networking phone app Nearby - if he could be her "boyfriend" and made a series of graphic sexual suggestions.
Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that the decoy was a member of paedophile-hunting group "Hope" - or Hunting Online Predators Everyday - and around June 14th last year (2020) Penman contacted "Jessie".
He stated, "Hi gorgeous, where are you from?".
Prosecutor Mrs Alex Kirk said the decoy clearly and repeatedly stated she was 13, and he replied that was OK, and that he was 51.
Mrs Kirk said: "He requested a photograph of Jessie, and he was sent an image which clearly shows an extremely young dark-haired female.
"He questioned her about wearing tights for him and asked her if she wanted him as a boyfriend. He asked her, 'have you ever touched a boy's private parts', 'have you got small or big breasts?' and 'can I see you in your bra?'"
He suggested he would like to perform oral sex on her, suggested she perform a sexual act on herself, and sent her an image of his erect penis.
He arranged to meet her at Asda, Stenhousemuir but when he turned up at the agreed time he was met by paedophile hunters from Hope.
They told him he would not be meeting "Jessie" and live-streamed the meeting on Facebook before contacting police, who arrested him.
Bearded Penman, of Denny, Stirlingshire, pleaded guilty to sending a sexual image and sexual communications to a person he believed to be a child, and arranging to meet her for sex.
Solicitor Billy Hendry, defending, said Penman was "extremely remorseful".
He said: "He is genuinely contrite and ashamed of himself."
Sheriff William Gilchrist jailed Penman for 12 months, and also imposed an extension of two years, during which Penman can be recalled to prison if he offends again.
The sheriff said: "Arranging to meet someone you believed to be 13 with a view to engaging in unlawful sexual activity is a very serious charge and one which in my view attracts a custodial sentence."
Penman showed no emotion as he was led below to the cells.
