A paedophile who believed he was meeting a 13-year-old girl in Brechin cemetery has been forced to move away from his Angus home.
Francis Cargill, 50, was snared by an online hunter group after he had engaged with a decoy he believed was a youngster called “Maisie”.
He spent weeks sending texts and voice messages to one of the group, who had made it clear he was purportedly chatting to a 13-year-old.
The creep tried to arrange a meet-up with the girl at Brechin cemetery, where he was caught.
Cargill, previously of South Esk Terrace, described his twisted fantasies to the girl, including asking to see her “private areas”.
Sting at cemetery
Dundee Sheriff Court had previously heard members of the hunter group Forbidden Scotland, had been in Brechin for a funeral and suggested – as “Maisie” – meeting with Cargill.
Fiscal depute Lora Apostalova said: “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.”
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said his client is “at a low risk of reoffending”.
He said: “He has had to move from the area.
“He has been placed in supported accommodation in Edinburgh.
“He has been referred to the Stop It Now programme.
“He is more than willing to engage (with services) to make sure something like this does not happen again.”
‘Vile offences’
Sheriff Gregor Murray warned Cargill his offences had crossed the custody threshold but he had been convinced there was an alternative available to him which would keep him out of prison.
He said: “These were vile offences.
“However, in your case there are mitigating factors.
“It is quite clear from the report your life has been influenced by your difficult upbringing, isolation and significant mental health problems you have suffered.
“You have one, minor, previous conviction.
“You are deemed a low risk of re-conviction.”
Cargill, now of Edinburgh, was ordered to carry out 225 hours unpaid work, placed on supervision and given a restriction of liberty order for three months.
Hs is required to register as a sex offender for three years.
He had earlier admitted sending illicit sexual messages to a woman he believed to be aged 13 in October 2021.
