A Fife paedophile who shared video games online with another convicted sex offender has been jailed for eight months.
James Laverty appeared in the dock at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday after breaching a community-based disposal for the third time.
The 30-year-old was previously convicted after downloading thousands of indecent images of children in 2016.
He was given a three year community payback order and told to participate with a sex offenders group work programme, while also being placed on the register.
The court was told how Laverty, of Robertson Avenue in Leven, had twice flouted the rules attached to his community based disposal on previous occasions.
The third breach came about after he engaged with a fellow sex offender online.
Defence solicitor Scott McKenzie said his client was particularly “anxious” about the prospect of custody and accepted he was “immature”.
He added Laverty had engaged well with the sex offender’s programme Moving Forward Making Changes and his current order was due to come to end later this year.
Mr McKenzie said: “My understanding is that he has been punished for the first two breaches.
“The latest breach involved him having contact with someone he should not have been having contact with. They were sharing video games online.”
He added Laverty had the support of his mother who attended at the court with him.
Sheriff Grant McCulloch said: “He was prohibited from having direct or indirect contact with certain individuals.
“He knew this person was also a registered sex offender. He met them in prison. The problem with Mr Laverty is that he is not prepared to accept what he does in any way.
“A breach of a court order is dangerous, not just for him but for other members of the public, particularly young people.
“This is yet another blatant breach which was put in place for public protection.”
Speaking directly to Laverty, the sheriff said: “You were given the benefit of a community payback order for the purpose of education and reflection and punishment.
“In these circumstances, I’m going to revoke the order following this breach and will impose a custodial sentence of eight months from today’s date.”
Laverty was convicted for taking or permitting indecent images of children to be taken at his address between May 2011 and August 2014.
He was also found in possession of sexual images of children during the same time period.
