A GALSTON sex offender who sent nude photos and indecent messages to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl has avoided jail.
Brian Smith told the 'teen' that he wanted to engage in sexual activity with her during conversations which went on for almost two months.
The 53-year-old was slammed for his "ridiculous" claims that the interactions were "innocent and harmless" as he returned to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court earlier this week.
Smith, of Brewland Street, was back in the dock, having previously pleaded guilty to three charges in relation to matters at a hearing earlier this year.
He admitted attempting to cause a child to look at a sexual image, attempting to communicate indecently with the girl, and being in possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.
The creep was caught out after it transpired the 'girl' he was talking to was, in reality, an adult woman who was part of Irish 'vigilante paedophile hunter group'.
Smith connected with the profile in March last year, with images attached to the account described as depicting a girl who was "clearly underage".
The sex offender made first contact and introduced himself by saying he was "looking to make new friends".
The profile stated to Smith that they were 13 in the first message sent in reply.
Conversations started in general terms who "progressively turned sexual".
Smith repeatedly discussed sexual activity and said he wanted to engage in this with the teenager.
The creep would also send links containing pornographic content to the 'teen' and instructed her on how to perform sexual acts.
The Galston man sent images of himself to her, including one which showed part of his genitals.
He asked the 'girl' to send a photograph of herself back to him.
Following the interactions, the team behind the profile worked with a Scottish vigilante group to locate Smith's home address.
A member of the group then attended at his property to confront the sex offender, who admitted the offences and said he "gets a kick" from the conversations.
Police were instructed to attend his home and Smith was arrested.
Following his arrest, electronic devices were seized from Smith's home and uncovered two indecent images of children on his mobile phone.
One was described as being a category A video, depicting the sexual abuse of a child aged between four and six, while the other was noted to be a category B image.
Defending, solicitor Nicole McCondichie stated that Smith "accepts full responsibility" for his actions.
She added: "He acted in a manner, quite clearly, that he should not have."
The lawyer also highlighted that the 53-year-old had, off his own back, been engaging in counselling since May last year.
Ms McCondichie said that Smith was "terrified of custody" and would comply fully with any alternative disposal.
Sentencing, Sheriff Colin Bissett highlighted that Smith had sought to downplay his intentions.
He said: “The offences to which you have pled guilty are serious ones.
“It’s one of my responsibilities to express the strong disproval of the court the community of this behaviour.
“Your explanation, seeking to portray this as something innocent and harmless, as if it’s something normal, simply for socialising with her, it’s ridiculous.
“It’s very clear what your intentions were, unfortunately, you are not man enough to admit it.
“You present me with a difficulty because of your failure to engage with reality, this behaviour simply cannot continue and should not be repeated.”
However, Sheriff Bissett said that it was also the court's responsibility to address Smith's offending behaviour.
He made the Galston man subject to a community payback order.
This will include two years of social work supervision as well as a requirement for Smith to stay within his home address between 7pm and 7am each day for the next nine months.
He was also fined a total of £3,925 with the sentence a direct alternative to custody.
Due to the nature of offences, Smith was added to the sex offenders register for a period of two years.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, with nine conditions attached aimed at reducing the likelihood of further offending.
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