Perth man escapes jail after sending lewd texts to teenage girl

A man who sent lewd texts to a 15-year-old girl has been ordered to undergo two and a half years of rehabilitation on the Tay Project for sex offenders.

At Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday Sheriff Michael Fletcher decided against jailing John Simpson, 48, as the maximum sentence would have been one year. Instead, he imposed a string of strict conditions, banning him from visiting parks, leisure areas, nurseries or schools where he might come into contact with children, and forbidding him from having contact with anyone 17 or under.

He will have to tell social workers about any new friend or relationship and is subject to having his electronic devices inspected.

Simpson was also placed on the sex offenders register,placed under supervision for three years and told to undergo alcohol treatment.

Simpson, of Rae Place, Perth, had admitted sending the texts to the teenager between November 1 and December 1 last year.