A court has heard how a middle-aged man offered a 14-year-old girl booze in return for the promise of sex.
James Stephen (52) regularly bought alcohol for the school pupil on the proviso she would go to bed with him.
However, he was eventually caught out when a lewd text message intended for the girl was found by her mother.
Police were quickly alerted and Stephen, of James Street, Blairgowrie, was arrested.
He admitted that between February 1 and May 12 at various supermarkets in Blairgowrie he bought alcohol on behalf of a 14-year-old girl.
Stephen further admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner, requesting sex from the girl in exchange for alcohol and sending her text messages that were sexually inappropriate.
Depute fiscal Julie McAra gave details of the offences.
“The complainer approached the accused with some of her friends in January of this year,” she told the court.
“She asked him to buy alcohol for her and also got his mobile number from him.
“She would often text him from her mum’s mobile phone, placing orders for alcohol from him.”SinisterMs McAra said it did not take long for events to take a more sinister turn.
“After a while the complainer started to get her alcohol for free and on one occasion the accused asked for sex in return for alcohol,” the depute fiscal continued.
“She refused and was upset by this.
“Nevertheless, the alcohol buying continued until May 2010 and it is accepted that there was an element of leading on by the complainer.
“She had indicated that she would have sex with him when she turned 16.”
Growing increasingly impatient, Stephen sent a series of lewd text messages to the 14-year-old. Unknown to him, he was actually sending the messages to the complainer’s mother.
Not surprisingly, she was not best pleased to receive a number of messages, of which “give or no more taking” was among the most tame.Text messages”The complainer’s mother discussed the messages with her daughter as she knew she used her phone,” Ms McAra continued.
“Police were contacted… and the complainer recognised the number as belonging to the accused.
“Both she and her mother were upset by the messages.”
When apprehended by police, Stephen quickly admitted his guilt.
“Police interviewed him and he said he had bought alcohol on the understanding the girl would have sex with him when she turned 16,” Ms McAra said.
“He said he thought she would turn 16 in a few weeks and had only recently found out she was in fact 14.”
The depute fiscal made a motion for the granting of a sexual offences protection order (SOPO), suggesting he should be banned from any unsupervised contact with any female under the age of 17.
Sheriff Derek O’Carroll said that application would be considered when Stephen is sentenced on October 6.
Stephen’s name was added to the sex offenders register meantime.