Moray man spared jail at Inverness Sheriff Court after being committing second offence of communicating indecently with a child

A man who "demonstrates an ongoing risk to children" has been told he is “very close” to jail after after committing his second offence of communicating indecently with a child.

Callum Bowie, of Green Street in Rothes, thought he was exchanging sexualised messages with a 14-year-old, it was, in fact, an undercover officer posing as a young girl.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that the 23-year-old, who admitted the offence, was still being monitored by police and had given officers his Snapchat profile name and phone number when the latest offence was discovered.

Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told the court that, apart from the indecent messages, Bowie also sent several images of an erect penis between July 13 and 26, 2023.

The court heard that it was the second time Bowie had sent sexual messages - a year after he did the same in 2022.

At that time he claimed it was "a drunken mistake”.

His solicitor, Brent Lockie, told Sheriff Gary Aitken: "He needs work before the risk of re-offending can be reduced.

“His father has been very supportive and the family have restricted his internet use at his own tenancy and at the parently home.

"He also now has an old-fashioned phone which can only take calls and send messages. The family have been keeping a close eye on him.

“He has been of good behaviour since he went through court two years ago but a lot of work remains to be done."

Sheriff Aitken told Bowie: "You are very close to the point that a custodial sentence is inevitable.

“I have no doubt that you demonstrate an ongoing risk to children.

"It is just a matter of luck that it was an undercover police officer that you were communicating with."

He placed Bowie under three years of social work supervision, ordered him to take part in a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders and instructed him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to prison.

Bowie was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for five years and had a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed for a similar period.

It is intended to reduce the risk of re-offending by restricting his contact with children unless accidental or authorised, his use and ownership of Internet-enabled devices and to allow for ongoing monitoring of him until 2030.