An Angus man tried to arrange a meeting at a cemetery in Brechin with a girl he believed to be 13 .
Francis Cargill had been communicating explicitly for nearly two months with a person he thought was a child called “Maisie”.
In actual fact it was an adult “decoy” from a self-proclaimed paedophile hunter group.
Cargill, 50, had spent weeks sending messages and voice notes to the group member, who made it clear she was 13 in the messages.
This did not deter unemployed Cargill, who continued in his pursuit of what he thought was a youngster.
Things came to a head on December 3 2021 when members of the group travelled to Brechin for a funeral and suggested a meeting between Cargill and his grooming target.
He agreed to meet with “Maisie” at Brechin Cemetery, around half-a-mile from his Southesk Terrace home.
Contact made with accused
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Forbidden Scotland target people who target children online.
“Witness Stacey Docherty posed as an online decoy.
“On October 10 2021 the accused contacted witness Docherty.
“She conversed with the accused and immediately made reference to being 13.
“The accused continued conversing with her, despite this.
“The conversations turn more sexualised, he says he wants to kiss her and they should only message at night.
“The witness pretended to be fairly normal, shy and that she was 13.”
Grooming
Ms Apostolova said: “The accused’s conversations became more sexualised, despite messages making clear she was 13 from the start.
“The accused told her about his penis and that he wanted to see her private areas.
“He tried to describe masturbation to her.
“A number of video calls were made.”
Cemetery sting
“Members of Forbidden Scotland were attending the funeral of a friend at Brechin Cemetery.
“Ms Docherty was messaged by the accused.
“She told him she was in Brechin.
“The group decided to perform a ‘sting’ on the accused.
“The accused said he was keen to meet up.
“At around 12.30pm witnesses met the accused at Brechin Cemetery as arranged, and confronted him in relation to sending sexualised messages.
“The accused initially said he thought the decoy was 17, but was shown screenshots.”
Cargill will return to Dundee Sheriff Court on November 28 for sentencing.
