A teenage sex offender who committed a string of serious breaches of a sexual harm order was made the subject of a four-year extended sentence.
Craig Gordon will spend a year in a young offenders institution before then being subject to a three-year licence term, which a sheriff said was crucial to protect the wider community.
The 18-year-old, formerly of Brechin, was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years after appearing for sentence before Sheriff Kevin Veal at Forfar.
Gordon, who was subject to conditions imposed under a Risk of Sexual Harm Order in January 2012, admitted three charges which emerged after he broke the trust of a family who took him in.
The accused had shown two young boys sexual images on his mobile phone and also been in the company of young girls in breach of his order.
The sheriff said the third charge was “very concerning” and involved the discovery of a batch of images of young girls in swimwear and adult-style lingerie.
Police who searched the accused’s bedroom also found girls’ pants and pornographic material, as well as images and videos on his mobile, some showing Gordon in the company of young girls.
The sheriff said: “In cases such as this where the offender is young, sentencing is a particularly difficult exercise.
“The court has to ensure that the orders previously made are rigidly adhered to and that behaviour such as that of the accused is seriously discouraged.
“On the other hand, the best interests of society and the wider community are better served by the accused properly addressing his addiction and multiple difficulties, with a view to his becoming an altogether less dangerous member of society, and reducing the level of risk he currently poses to the community.
“A custodial sentence is inevitable, and the only appropriate disposal in which the wider public will have confidence.
“I am also concerned that the same public will be adequately protected from serious harm from the accused when he is released.”