A predator who brought a tent, condoms and sex toys when he tried to meet a “14-year-old” girl at a Dundee supermarket has been jailed.
Duncan McLaren was apprehended after finding out the filthy messages he’d been sending were actually being received by vigilante paedophile hunters.
McLaren was locked up for two and a half years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.
The 45-year-old had tried to pin his poor judgement on having Huntington’s Disease.
However, Forfar Sheriff Court heard he had little remorse and was considered a high risk of re-offending.
Back in the dock
In April, McLaren admitted communicating indecently with a decoy account online, which he believed belonged to a teenage girl.
On Kik messenger and Badoo, he said he had “a nine-inch monster” the girl could play with and lambasted age of consent legislation.
After arranging to meet the girl at Lidl on South Ward Road, he was “restrained” by vigilantes until police arrived.
Officers found McLaren had a bag with three phones, two condoms, a tent and sex toys inside.
McLaren also admitted missing a court hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court on October 4 last year.
He has been on remand since October and sentencing had been deferred for background reports.
His solicitor Doug McConnell said Huntington’s Disease was put to social workers as “part of the reason, but certainly no excuse for the behaviour that occurred”.
Mr McConnell added: “He’s been in custody since October 24.
“This is the sole matter that he has left.”
He explained although McLaren had an address in Dundee when he offended, he no longer has anywhere to live.
“The difficulty for him is there’s no address.
“There isn’t an address and therefore a lengthy custodial sentence is probably inevitable.
“The plea was an amended plea. He accepts that.
“He’s grown up with various difficulties throughout his life. These will continue until he gets support.”
Mr McConnell explained McLaren missed the court hearing last year because he was in Belgium.
“At one stage, he was held in custody in Belgium.
“There’s no excuse, he should have been back.”
Caged
Sheriff Krista Johnston reprimanded McLaren’s attitude and lack of remorse.
The sheriff said there was a suggestion McLaren’s condition meant his judgement was “sometimes not the best”.
She said: “On the last occasion, I heard a narration of events which outlined the facts and circumstances from which I was told that you sent messages and photos of the most depraved nature to someone you thought was 14 years of age.
“You arranged to meet them with the most sinister of intentions.
“I have a psychiatric report which outlines that you do suffer from Huntington’s Disease.
“While that provokes sympathy, it provides little by way of mitigation.
“You’re 45 years of age. Your victim, as far as you were concerned, was 30 years younger.
“You’re a high risk of reconviction of sexual offences.
“I consider there’s no alternative to dealing with you by a custodial sentence.”
The sheriff backdated the sentence to when McLaren was remanded.
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