A “high risk” sex offender from Fife has been returned to jail after he admitted having contact with two young girls.
James Kidd, nicknamed Moonpig because he ran a greetings card business behind bars, breached a strict court order after his release from prison.
The 28-year-old had spent 13 months on remand over made-up and unfounded allegations that he had sexually assaulted a former cellmate.
When he was released, he was still subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which meant he was forbidden from having any deliberate contact with any girls under 16.
He was told that, because of the order, he could not stay with his girlfriend in what was temporary accommodation.
The pair moved to Lochgelly, but he soon ended the relationship and entered another one.
Shortly after, Kidd’s ex-partner contacted Fife Council’s social work department and told them that while they had been together, another woman had been in the house with two primary-school age girls on three occasions.
Police inquiries found that the girls’ mother was aware of Kidd’s history and even joked with him about being “a beast.”
He was eventually traced by police hiding in a friend’s attic.
Lawyer says breach was not sinister
Kidd, 28, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video link from HMP Barlinnie to admit breaching his SOPO in Lochgelly’s Main Street between April 1 and April 14 this year.
Solicitor David Cranston explained that in 2018, Kidd was jailed for 42 months and that he only spent 13 days at liberty before the false allegations saw him locked up again for more than a year.
He added that Kidd had always been clear about his convictions and requirements.
“What he should have done was left the house,” Mr Cranston said.
“He hardly interacted with them at all.
“I hope the court will accept this wasn’t a sinister breach.”
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane jailed Kidd for 10 months, backdated to April 25.
She said: “These orders are in place for a good reason.”
Chequered history
Sex offender James Kidd has already spent time behind bars for hiding contraband in his cell at HMP Perth.
In 2019, Kidd succeeded in correcting a sheriff who tried to extend his prison sentence.
Former electrician Kidd created a makeshift tattoo gun in his cell from a spoon, a guitar string, a pen and a Playstation controller.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahony tried to jail him for three months, but from the dock, Kidd reminded him the maximum sentence was 30 days, below the three months the sheriff had intended.
Kidd admitted a month later that he had a needle in his cell at Perth Prison, which he said was for making ornate greetings cards to sell to other lags.
For that, he was jailed for eight months.
