A Fife man was exposed by a paedophile hunter group as he waited to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex at Kirkcaldy Train Station.
Colin Peter began communicating with an online profile which he believed belonged to a young girl in July 2018.
The 54-year-old, who repeatedly sent sexual messages, was actually talking to a member of the vigilante group Groom Resisters Scotland.
Peter, of Kennoway Road in Windygates, arranged to meet the girl at the transport hub in Kirkcaldy on July 29.
Instead he was met by members of the group who live-streamed the “sting” on social media.
Unemployed Peter appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and pled guilty to two charges.
He admitted intentionally sending written sexual communications to a person who he believed to be a child under the age of 13, from his former home in Haughgate Street in Leven.
The pervert also admitted attempting to meet the young girl at the train station and intending to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
When confronted at the station, Peter was caught on video telling the hunters: “We were just going to go away and have lunch. Just looking at the shops.”
However, one message, which he admitted writing to the fictional girl, was read back to him.
It said: “Well apart from lunch and coming back to my place to watch a movie or listen to music.
“We can always take a walk along the beach or just stay here and if you want we can have sex together but I’ll use a condom during the time we have sex.”
Defence solicitor Catherine Chalmers explained it was the case her client had been talking with a “decoy” as opposed to a real child.
Sheriff James Williamson said: “This is a case where the accused became involved online with someone he thought was a child and involved himself in correspondence.
“He was thereafter detected by this group and interviewed.
“Given the nature of this conviction and the nature of your previous convictions that go back to the 90s and 80s, I’m going to order a criminal justice social work report.”
He also ordered Peter to sign the sex offenders register in the meantime and will determine the length of his registration at his sentencing.
Peter was released on bail and will return to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on February 15.
