Community payback order for man who sent sexual message to girl of 14

A 36-year-old Fife man continued to have a romantic relationship with a girl after learning she was only 14.

Steven Nolan met his victim on an online dating app where she claimed to be 17 and he claimed to be 27, and met up in Fife.

However, after she told him she was only 14 he continued to send her sexual messages and graphic fantasies, Dundee Sheriff Court previously heard.

Nolan’s defence solicitor told the court he quickly developed feelings for the girl but communications between them became “less sexual” when he discovered her true age.

Nolan, of Fisher Avenue, Hawick, had previously admitted sending sexual messages to a child under 16.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael today sentenced him to a community payback order with a year’s supervision, 120 hours of unpaid work and an eight-month curfew.

Nolan is subject to the notification requirements of the sex offenders register for the duration of his supervision.