An Angus pervert was cornered by paedophile hunters at Arbroath bus station after he arrived to meet what he thought was a schoolgirl from Glasgow.
Mark Falzon had spent months communicating with a decoy Facebook account before being confronted in his hometown by members of The Forbidden Scotland.
Throughout his conversations, the 42-year-old regularly referred to the supposed 13-year-old as his girlfriend.
On Tuesday, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Decoy
Falzon began messaging on Facebook with what he thought was a schoolgirl called Demi Grey on October 29 last year.
In fact, he was speaking to a vigilante paedophile hunter who operates with online group The Forbidden Scotland.
Early in the conversation, the woman – who was operating an account on which the profile picture was that of a young girl – said she was 13 and from Glasgow.
Undeterred, Falzon’s messages became increasingly sexual over the next two and a half months.
Chats with ‘child’ turn sexual
He initially asked for a photograph of the girl and said: “If you were a bit older and I asked you out, what would you say?”
Falzon added: “Would you like to meet up some time?” and “Would you like to come to Arbroath if it was okay?”
He repeatedly asked the girl what she was wearing and requested photographs.
As the conversation progressed, unwitting Falzon asked if the decoy wanted to be his girlfriend.
Throughout their conversation, he referred to them as being boyfriend and girlfriend and referred to taking the relationship “slow.”
He was told on various occasions the girl was attending school.
Falzon turned the conversation sexual, telling the girl he could wash her back if she wanted and made reference to kissing and cuddling in bed.
As well as asking what colour her underwear was, Falzon told the girl: “Bet you look sexy naked” and “Bet you have a cute bum”.
Caught by hunters
He agreed to meet on January 9 this year at Arbroath bus station.
After being confronted by members of the paedophile hunting group, police arrived.
Fiscal depute Lynne Mannion told the court Falzon had been told he was no longer welcome at his home in Howard Street in Arbroath.
However, his solicitor David Sinclair said he had since returned.
He said: “He is back living with his parents.”
Falzon admitted attempting to communicate indecently with an older child.
Sheriff George Way ordered a social work report and made Falzon subject to sex offender notification requirements.
He will return to be sentenced on January 23.
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