A Forfar paedophile told a court he would “do anything” to avoid going back to prison after being caught sending sexual communications to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Alistair Lee, 64, admitted sending illicit messages to a girl he thought was called Isla, but was in fact an adult, undercover “paedophile hunter”, Sheila Dreghorn.
Lee, of Manor Court, is already registered as a sex offender and was subject to an order meaning he had to let police know his mobile phone number.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Lee would ask “the child” to “slip down her shorts”, even after she identified herself as a youngster.
Paedophile snared by hunter group
Depute fiscal Gavin Barton told the court: “The accused is single, unemployed and is a registered sex offender.
“The accused has a directly analogous conviction.
“Witness Dreghorn is a member of the group Shattered Silence.
“She acted as the child, Isla, on the dating app Mingle.
“She used an image of a dark-haired young female.
“The account received a message from user Scooter2020.
“He told the ‘girl’ his name was Alistair.
“She told him she was 13. However, communications continued.”
Conversation takes dark turn
Mr Barton said: “The accused asked ‘Isla’ questions including ‘what are you wearing’ and ‘say naughty things’.
“He asked if she wanted him to ‘slip in bed beside her’ and if she could ‘stroke him’ and if she could ‘pull her shorts down’.
“The ‘girl’ asked why she should do this and Lee responded ‘it is what girls do’.”
The court was told Lee continued to send messages and on May 31 2021 he asked to take their conversation onto WhatsApp.
Mr Barton said: “On June 1 the communications stopped.
“Witness Dreghorn reported the messages to the police.”
Prison plea
Defence solicitor Brian Bell said his client had spent time in custody on a previous matter.
“He spent three months in prison – it had a significant effect on him.
“He is willing to do anything to keep from going back.
“He has no outstanding matters.
“He has no access to the internet.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred sentence and granted Lee bail until February 8.
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