A Perth paedophile who called himself Dangerous Dave broke a strict court order by owning an Xbox games console.
David Greig admitted breaching terms of his decade-long sexual offences prevention order, which bans him from having any devices that can access the internet.
The 43-year-old, who was previously jailed for sharing vile child abuse images, appeared via video link at Perth Sheriff Court and pled guilty to the breach.
He was locked up in October last year, when police officers found the Xbox 360 in the living room of his North Methven Street flat.
Lawyers for Greig said he was caught out after a recent change of wording in the updated Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Sheriff Mark Stewart jailed Greig for three months but he will be released immediately, having already served the equivalent of a 18-month sentence on remand.
Internet ban
Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney told the court: “The accused is managed as a sex offender in the community and is subject to the sexual offender notification requirements until October 2024.
“One of his conditions is that he requires to inform officers of any electronic devices he owns, uses or possess which are capable of accessing the internet or communicating electronic messages.”
The fiscal depute said: “At about 5.20pm on October 7 2021, police officers conducted a routine visit to the accused.
“They observed an Xbox 360 sitting on a console unit in the living room.
“The accused was caution and placed under arrest.”
Greig told the officers: “I probably picked you up wrong.
“I though you just meant one of the newer ones.”
Xbox disabled
Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, said Greig was referring to the latest generation of game consoles.
He said the wording of the sex offences prevention order “materially” changed in July 2021 from a ban on owning “any devices that gives internet access” to “devices capable of accessing the internet.”
“Mr Greig previous had an Xbox 360 under the old order,” he said.
The court heard Greig made efforts to disable the console from the internet, and asked a friend to remove a WIFI chip.
However, there was still an ethernet connection port, meaning the machine could be plugged into an internet connection.
“Mr Greig does not have broadband or access to the internet at home,” Mr Sinclair said.
“My advice to him is that if he is in doubt he should seek advice before he again finds himself in this situation.”
In May last year, Greig was jailed for a year for having two secret mobile phones.
Sentence will mark record
Sheriff Stewart told Greig: “You have been subject to a sexual offences prevention order in respect of your previous conduct.
“This order has, over time, evolved and changed its wording to bring it up-to-date with all the possible methods of sexual misconduct and offending that can be carried out via the internet.”
He said: “The games console fell within the definition of a prohibited item.
“There’s no suggestion that this device was connected to the internet and steps were taken to disable it.
“I am prepared to the accept that this is a breach at the lower end of the scale and was not indicative of a return to offending behaviour.”
The sheriff said: “I do not intend to add to the period of custody you have had, but I think it is appropriate that I mark this on your record.”
Greig was previously jailed for three years after being caught using the internet to trade hours of sickening footage of child sex abuse.
He had set up a Skype account using the name Dangerous Dave and had a six year extended sentence imposed to protect the public from him.
