A paedophile has been released on bail so a court can assess if he will be suitable for living in supported accommodation.
Ross Ottaway was caught after he targeted a “13-year-old girl” – who was in fact a decoy Facebook profile set up by members of a vigilante group to snare sexual predators.
Ottaway, 37, formerly of Dundee but now living in Arbroath, was already on the sex offenders register for an offence committed in 2013 when the online chats began.
He was arrested after members of the group Creep Catchers UK confronted him at his then home in Kirk Street and filmed him, streaming it live across social media.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Ottaway was registered disabled, was blind in one eye and suffered from Prader-Willi syndrome as well as being dyslexic and having type 2 diabetes.
On July 8 last year, a member of Creep Catchers UK set up a Facebook page in the name of “Zoe Warner”.
Almost immediately, the profile received a friend request from Ottoway, who later asked what age she was, to which the decoy replied that she was almost 13.
Ottaway asked for naked pictures of “Zoe” and pictures of her wearing her school uniform and swimwear. He also asked her to have sex with him.
On July 29 last year, three members of Creep Catchers UK decided to travel to Scotland to expose him.
They filmed the conversation and streamed it live on Facebook and then informed the police.
Solicitor Anika Jethwa told the court her client had been forced to move home three times because he had been targeted by people due to his offending, as had his mother.
She said social workers had suggested he may be suitable for living in supported accommodation for people with learning difficulties. A social worker from Angus Council was in court to support Ottaway.
He admitted that between July 8-30 last year, at an address in Kirk Street or elsewhere unknown, he sent sexual messages and sexual written communications to someone who he believed to be a child over 13 but under 16 via social media and attempted to communicate indecently with an older child.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence until September 28 for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a sexual offences prevention order.
Ottaway’s bail was continued in the meantime.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.