A 58-year-old volunteer who bombarded a 14-year-old girl with text messages after meeting her through a Police Scotland youth scheme has avoided a jail term after admitting stalking the teenager.
Police Scotland civilian staff member Andrew Ingram was slammed by a sheriff for breaching the girl’s trust after she initially approached him with concerns about a friend she believed was being bullied.
Ingram, from Forfar, then sent her 174 text messages over a 20-day period last summer, including commenting on holiday photographs which he described as “some nice pictures of you”.
Forfar sheriff court heard he also began to sign off the messages with a ‘x’, and in one suggested: “I think we have a kind of special relationship, or am I wrong?”
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said that the teenager eventually raised concerns about the messages with her granny and police were alerted.
The court was told the girl was a member of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers programme, with which the accused was an adult helper, and although there was an open social media line of communication Ingram had begun privately messaging the girl.
When arrested, Ingram, of Prior Road, Forfar said the messages were innocent, but admitted that someone reading them might have considered them inappropriate.
Defence solicitor Brian Bell said the accused had been signed off work, largely due to the court proceedings, but anticipated that he would be dismissed from his civilian role.
“In the cold light of day he realises that this was completely inappropriate behaviour.
“There was no sexual motive, no effort to groom the child,” added Mr Bell.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio told Ingram that being in a position of trust as part of the youth programme was an “aggravating factor” in the case.
“You appear as a first offender of previously good character, but I intend to impose a Community Payback Order as an alternative to imprisonment.”
The one-year order will include a supervision requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 200 hours in light of the accused’s early plea in the case.
Not guilty pleas to two other similar charges involving girls aged 13 and 14 were accepted by the Crown.
Les Brown, head of the Crown Office Criminal Allegations Against the Police division said:
“The accused in this case took advantage of his position as a volunteer who was trusted by the youths in this organisation.
“His behaviour was unacceptable and caused increasing anxiety and alarm for his victim.”
Detective Inspector Scott Fotheringham of Police Scotland said: “The result today sends a strong message that no matter who you work for, this type of behaviour is not acceptable and will be taken seriously.
“Police Scotland takes the protection of children and young people seriously and works alongside partner agencies and our communities to identify concerns, investigate incidents of criminality and to bring those responsible before the courts.
“Disappointingly, Drew Ingram abused his position of trust and has been sentenced for these offences today.
“Drew Ingram is currently suspended from Police Scotland and a report on the circumstances will be passed to the Head of People and Development for their consideration.”
Ingram has since resigned his PSYV position.
