A paedophile who planned to meet a “12-year-old boy” for sex at a Fife park has walked free from court.
David Jackson was caught after making contact with a decoy social media profile allegedly belonging to a pre-teen boy named Cameron.
The 37-year-old was actually talking to a member of the Wolfpack Hunters UK group who expose alleged sex offenders by posing as young children online.
During chats with the decoy, Jackson arranged to meet the “boy” at Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline on May 26.
The pervert was exposed by members of the hunter group who live-streamed the confrontation which has since been viewed more than 216,000 times on Facebook.
He previously admitted sending sexual images, video and messages to an adult posing as a child under the age of 13 at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
But he was spared being jailed after appearing for sentencing on Wednesday and was instead given a community payback order.
The court was told how Jackson had twice been forced to leave his home since being exposed after members of the public found out who he was.
On one occasion, a brick was thrown through the window of his temporary flat in Kirkcaldy.
Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison asked for Sheriff Charles Mcnair QC to impose a court order banning the publication of Jackson’s address.
He said, “The background appears to be the breakdown of a long-term relationship with an adult male.
“He says his interests are in the male homosexual arena. He was feeling isolated and turned to alcohol and became involved in this offending.
“Prior to the break-up in his relationship he did not have an interest in this arena.
“There have been difficulties in him being outed. He’s been required to move house twice because of that. A brick was thrown through a window.”
Sheriff Macnair placed Jackson on two years’ supervision and ordered him to perform 190 hours of unpaid work.
He said: “It’s quite clear that you were wanting to have conversations of a sexual nature with a very young boy.
“In fact, there was no young boy but that doesn’t detract from your intentions. If it had been a genuine boy I would undoubtedly be sending you to a period of imprisonment.”
Jackson was placed on the sex offenders register for two years.
