A married man jailed for having sex with a boy he met online is appealing against his sentence.
Douglas Sinclair, 32, was locked up for four years for abusing the underage teen, who claimed online that he was 18.
Now, Sinclair has launched an appeal against his sentence at the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.
Perth Sheriff Court previously heard the predator had sex with the youngster in a derelict building in the grounds of the Murray Royal Infirmary in Perth.
Sinclair admitted that on one occasion between August 2015 and January 2016 in the grounds of the hospital, he engaged in sexual acts with the teen.
The offence came to light after the boy was involved in an incident at his school and used a chat site to engage in sexual acts with Sinclair and others.
Sinclair’s DNA was found on a curtain at the scene but he initially denied the offence when he was quizzed about it.
At Sinclair’s sentencing in February, solicitor Pauline Cullerton admitted that a report from the Tay Project — which aims to rehabilitate sex offenders — indicated that they didn’t feel they could work with Sinclair to moderate his behaviour at present.
Ms Cullerton said her client’s relationship with his female partner was “now at an end”, but he was hoping to stay with his mother in Auchterarder.
Sheriff Gillian Wade said Sinclair: “Given your assessment as being at very high risk of sexual re-conviction, your attitude to the crime and the nature of the offence, there is no alternative to custody.
“It’s deeply concerning you are not accepting all your guilt to the extent it might be accepted and you seek to blame the victim, who was a child.”
Detective Inspector Scott Fotheringham, of the Public Protection Unit, said: “This will prevent him for potentially causing harm to other young people.
“We would encourage anyone with concerns relating to sexual abuse – whether it relates to you or someone you know — to phone Police on 101, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, NSPCC or talk to someone you trust.”
Sinclair’s appeal will be heard next week.
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