An Angus man performed a sex act on himself three times in four days while browsing pornography on a public library computer
Adam Morrison has been placed on the sex offenders’ register and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
He will also be banned from Forfar library for 18-month duration of his Community Payback Order after being sentenced at the town’s sheriff court for offences which also included sending sexually explicit messages to 13 and 11-year-old girls.
Morrison, 21, of Leach Close, Arbroath previously admitted the indecency acts at the library in West High Street which took place on April 11, 12 and 14 2017.
The court was told Morrison was a regular at the Forfar facility and was known to staff.
On the dates in question he went to the reading room and sat at the computer furthest from the door and closest to the back wall. His actions were caught on CCTV.
He also pled guilty to sending sexually explicit messages to the young girls via Facebook between July and August 2015.
The court previously heard the 13-year-old received a Facebook message from an Adam Morrison, but there was no photograph on his profile.
He said he was 17 and asked her to send him an indecent picture of herself.
The teenager thought the account was fake and blocked the accused’s profile to ensure he was not able to contact her again.
Police became involved, accessed Morrison’s computer and found messages from the accused asking the girl for naked images.
The 11-year-old had a Facebook account which she used regularly. After getting into a conversation with Morrison she showed her mother the explicit content.
Sentencing had been deferred for the preparation of full background reports on Morrison, who is autistic, and solicitor Sarah Russo said those showed “a degree of insight and reflection in respect of his actions.”
“The author of the report has said that he did not intend to cause harm or distress in those instances,” she added.
“They are more than happy to work with him and there are issues to be addressed.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown told Morrison he had admitted a “serious offence” for which custody was an option.
“I am satisfied that in light of the detailed reports that a community-based disposal is available,” the sheriff added.
The terms of the CPO include a mental health treatment requirement and conduct requirement banning Morrison from Forfar library for 18 months, as well as restrictions on use of the internet and unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.
His name will be placed on the register for the duration of the CPO.
