A teenage Angus sex offender who befriended a family before showing indecent images to their children may go free next month.
Former Brechin resident Craig Gordon appeared for sentencing at Forfar Sheriff Court on Tuesday after admitting the breach of a court order.
The 18-year-old, a prisoner at the young offenders’ institution, HMP Polmont, admitted showing sexual images to two boys under the age of 13 on October 5 last year, and downloading indecent images of children between February 12 and October 11.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said Gordon was taken in by a family over a shared love of motorsport, before neighbours saw him play “pile-up” and hide-and-seek with young girls.
He was challenged by police, and officers found a haul of indecent images when they searched his bedroom.
They told the family about his past and discovered Gordon had shown their boys indecent images on his phone.
Police went to Gordon’s address and saw a photo of a young girl on the wall of his bedroom.
Multiple images were found on his phone similar to those described by the boys, as well as several images showing himself in the company of young girls.
Indecent images of children were found on a laptop.
The court also heard Gordon broke a sexual harm order in 2012 by entering playparks and chasing girls under the age of 16.
Sheriff Kevin Veal said the options remain open for “very extensive” community disposal or “an extension of custody” to which Gordon has already been subject.
While members of the accused’s family had indicated they could house him, police said the addresses provided were unsuitable due to the close proximity of children.
Defence agent Robin Beattie said his client had applied for council housing and efforts were being made to find alternative addresses.
Gordon had lived with his stepfather after the death of his mother in 2006, where he was subject to abuse.
He went to live with his biological father, who was a recovering alcoholic.
Sheriff Veal said: “If I have to impose a custodial sentence I want to ensure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.
“The protection of children must be paramount the risk he poses to the wider community must be significantly reduced or entirely eliminated.
“These offences are far from insignificant and the disposal is predicated entirely on the availability of a suitable address.”
Gordon was remanded until March 27 and sentence was deferred.