A jailed sex offender has admitted trying to wreck his own trial by begging his ex-partner not to attend at his court proceedings.
Adam Smith phoned his former girlfriend nearly 50 times from Perth Prison, where he was held on remand.
He encouraged her not to turn up at court, believing that this could cause the crown case against him to collapse.
In 2021, the 23-year-old was jailed for 28 months after he admitted having underage sex with the teenager he met online.
He pled guilty to engaging in an abusive course of conduct by controlling how she dressed and inducing her to physically harm herself.
Smith, from Glenrothes, appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted breaching bail conditions by phoning his ex between February 22 and March 18, 2021.
He also pled guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Phone records
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson told the court: “On July 16, 2020, the accused was released from Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court with a special bail condition not to approach, contact or communicate with his ex-partner.”
Smith was remanded in relation to a separate matter in February 2021.
“On March 11, police attended at the home of the ex-partner to get a statement as part of their ongoing inquiries,” said Ms Hodgson.
“She said that the accused had been contacting her from HMP Perth by telephone.
“She further told that the accused had been asking about witnesses in his case.
“He preceded to ask his ex-partner not to attend court for his case, believing that if she didn’t go to court the case would not be continued.”
The prosecutor said: “Police investigated further and obtained data about the accused’s phone calls.”
It showed he had called his former partner nearly 50 times in the space of three weeks.
Jail time extended
Solicitor Kerr Sneddon, defending, said: “He was making these calls from prison and each call was recorded, so it would have been obvious to anyone making inquiries.”
He stressed that the calls were not abusive.
“He tells me that he is now assessed as a low risk,” the solicitor said.
The court heard that Smith was released but had since been recalled to prison.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahoney told Smith: “Attempting to pervert the course of justice is a very serious matter and needs to be marked in some way.
“I recognise that you are making efforts to improve yourself while in custody.
“But I have no choice but to impose a custodial sentence.”
Smith had another four months added onto to his current sentence.
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