A married Kirriemuir man discussed meeting up with a woman online to sexually abuse her six-year-old daughter.
Paul Carabine said he was “interested” in travelling to London to meet up with the girl and asked her mother what she would let him do to her.
The 46-year-old did not realise he had actually been chatting for months with an undercover police officer.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard he was arrested following the Metropolitan Police covert sting operation to weed out potential predators.
The former casino worker admitted being engaged in explicit sexualised conversation and discussing the sexual abuse of a child between August 17 and October 26 last year, from his then-home in Hillrise.
He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and will be sentenced later this year.
The set-up
Fiscal depute Jill Drummond told the court: “Information was received as a result of an online undercover operation conducted by the Metropolitan Police.
“The operation sought to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
“The objective was to identify and bring to justice those offenders who pose a risk to children.”
She said: “An undercover police officer assumed the identity of a 40-year-old female named Victoria.
“They created email and messenger accounts, allowing the user to interact on a one-to-one basis.”
Her profile on messaging platform Kik was “Naughty Vic”.
Ms Drummond said: “The undercover officer joined several public groups on Kik with the common purpose of sharing a child, or images of a child or children – in her case, sharing a daughter.”
On chatroom site ChatiW, the account name was “Mum Of Trained”.
The fiscal depute explained: “This is an indication that she has ‘trained’ or abused a child of her own.”
If another user questioned the meaning of the name, they were ignored.
Graphic messages
The prosecutor said: “On August 17 2022, the accused used ChatiW and sent a message to Mum Of Trained.”
He asked: “DAU (daughter) as trained?”
The cop replied: “Yes. 6 yo (year old).”
The exchange immediately became highly explicit, with Carabine asking a series of questions about sexual activity involving the girl and her physical condition.
After explaining his handle on Kik was “knickersniffer38”, Carabine wrote: “I’m David, by the way.”
The pair continued conversing on Kik and the sexual exchange continued from August 17 to October 26.
When told the girl was “still a little sloppy” with certain sex acts, Carabine replied: “Practice makes perfect,” adding a smiley emoji.
At one point, Carabine was asked: “Are you interested in her, or just fantasy talk?”
He replied: “I’m interested.”
Carabine showed no emotion in the dock as the graphic messages and responses were read out.
He had asked the undercover officer: “You never watch her with guy? Where are you from?”
She replied: “I did to start just to make sure they were behaving. It was a good mate of mine so I trusted him.”
Carabine was told the woman was from West London.
Arranging a meet-up
As the messages continued, the accused said he was nervous about giving out his mobile number.
Ms Drummond said: “He asked if they could talk for the first time on a private app.
“The undercover officer replied that she wanted them to start with trust, particularly if they were going to talk about the abuse of her child.”
Carabine continued to ask about her daughter, the fiscal depute said.
“He wanted to know what the child was able to do and what the officer would be willing to let her do.”
Carabine was invited to travel to London but he said it would be difficult with his “work and his wife.”
When the Met again tried to ask about a meet-up, Carabine did not respond.
Police raid
Ms Drummond said: “On October 28, the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit in Dundee received information that a mobile number linked to accused had engaged in sexualised conversation with ‘Vic’ in efforts to abuse her young child.”
Officers descended on Carabine’s home in early November.
“The accused and his wife were at the address,” said the fiscal depute.
“The accused advised that they had both tested positive for Covid.
“Both were made aware of the police inquiry.”
Two of Carabine’s mobile phones – containing all the exchanges – were seized.
Sheriff Krista Johnston deferred sentence until April.
She made Carabine, now of Muirdykes Avenue, Corronshore, near Falkirk, subject to registration requirements and ordered background reports.
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