A Blairgowrie man who induced a 14-year-old schoolgirl to perform a sex act on him has been sentenced.
Jamie Stewart, 31, admitted a campaign of sexual misconduct towards the girl, starting almost seven years ago.
He admitted sending explicit photos and videos to the girl.
Only after she gave evidence to a jury did he accept he engaged in physical sexual activity with her as well.
His victim cannot be named for legal reasons.
At Perth Sheriff Court, Stewart was told his offending was “terrible” by a sentencing sheriff.
Abuse
Stewart, of Heather Drive in Blairgowrie, admitted communicating indecently with the girl between October 2017 and December 2018, while she was 14 and 15 years old.
Through text and social media messages, Stewart engaged in sexualised conversation.
He sent her sexual photographs and videos of himself and asked that she send him sexual images and clips.
Stewart admitted this was for sexual gratification, or to humiliate, alarm or distress his victim.
After the girl had given evidence before a jury, he also admitted an amended charge of engaging in sexual activity with her in February 2018, when she was 15.
At a property in Blairgowrie, he kissed her on the lips, touched her breasts and buttocks, induced her to perform a sex act on him and performed a sex act on her.
He also placed a sex toy on the girl’s private parts.
At the time of the sexual contact, Stewart was aged 25.
‘Remorse’
Defence solicitor Steve Lafferty said his “high-functioning autistic” client is employed and a first offender.
“He’s always effectively accepted charge one (indecent communication).
“It’s a situation where he had described a degree of remorse.
“It’s a significant offence he’s committed.
“The report reflects a man who would comply fully with community-based disposals.
“He tells me he was initially resistant to this young woman being in his property.
“That’s not the case on the second occasion.
“It’s his fault, he accepts that.”
Finely balanced position
Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC imposed a direct alternative to imprisonment on Stewart.
She said: “This is a terrible offence where you, 10 years senior to the child, met her though a position of trust.
“I note that you feel regret and you verbalise some appreciation of the impact on the victim.
“You are assessed as medium risk.
“I note that you don’t meet the criteria for specialist intervention and this is a first offence.
“I note that you have certain mental health difficulties, in particular autism.
“This case is finely balanced.”
The sheriff imposed 300 hours of unpaid work, to be completed in a year as a direct alternative to prison.
Stewart was told his discount for pleading guilty was that he was not being jailed.
She placed Stewart under supervision for two years and on the Sex Offenders Register for as long.
The sheriff also imposed strict conduct requirements relating to child contact, contact with the victim, social media use and declaration of friendships and relationships.
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