Description
A man who had sex with two underage girls he met in an internet chat room has been jailed for eight years. Steven Brodie, 29, slept with a 13-year-old girl in her bedroom in Caithness after first leading her to believe he was the same age as her.
He later had sex with 15-year-old girl in the Highlands.
Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord McPhail said Brodie had shown little thought for the consequences on his victims.
The case had earlier been referred to the High Court from Wick Sheriff Court after Sheriff Andrew Berry said he could only impose a five-year prison sentence.
This is a clear case of the callous, cynical and deliberate grooming and exploitation of a child by an adult male for sexual purposes
- Lord McPhail
Brodie, from Edinburgh, admitted he had sex with the 13-year-old girl and that he was aware of her age. He also admitted having intercourse with the other youngster, but said he thought she was 16.
The court was told that Brodie swapped about 200 text messages and calls with the 13-year-old girl he met in a chatroom before driving to her Highland home and having sex with her after the victim's mother left for work.
Police later discovered that he had also formed a relationship with a 15-year-old girl in a chatroom and taken her to a bed-and-breakfast for sex.
Lord McPhail said: "This is a clear case of the callous, cynical and deliberate grooming and exploitation of a child by an adult male for sexual purposes."
"You were 28 at the time and developed a relationship with a child of 13 on the internet, well aware she was only that age."
'Affected her schooling'
The judge said a background report made it clear Brodie had been more worried about the consequences of the case for himself than for his victims.
He added: "Your behaviour towards the youngest child affected her schooling and her relationship with her mother. You have been concerned mainly with the consequences for yourself."
Brodie met the younger victim in November last year after she accessed the internet on her phone and was connected with a chatroom.
She at first thought he was about the same age as her, but as they exchanged messages she became aware of his true age.
After meeting her for sex, Brodie kept in contact with his victim before she revealed to a friend what had happened.
The friend then spoke to her own mother, who contacted the police and the mother of the victim.
Defence solicitor advocate Neil Wilson said Brodie was "at a loss to explain his behaviour towards the end of last year".
He said Brodie maintained he was not actively searching for a girl under the age of consent when he went into the chatroom, but was looking for a sexual relationship.
Brodie earlier pled guilty to three charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girls.
He also admitted two offences under protection of children and prevention of sexual offences legislation.
The mother of the younger victim has previously warned other parents about the potential dangers of young girls to access chatrooms on their mobile phones.