Hugh Wilson 64

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A REPEAT offender who wanted to ‘adopt’ and teach sex acts to a ‘child’ he believed was 14 has been jailed after being caught trying to meet a girl online in Ayr.

Hugh Wilson appeared from custody at the town's sheriff court after pleading guilty to causing a person pretending to be a young child to receive sexual communications.

The 64-year-old was stung by members of a child protection group and livestreamed on social media, after previously avoiding prison when snared in the same manner by police.

When he returned to the dock last week, he was jailed, however, he is likely to be released soon due to the length of time spent on remand.

We previously reported how Wilson, now of HMP Kilmarnock, took members of the voluntary online protection group on a tour of his flat on Craigie Avenue in Ayr, in a video streamed on the Against Sexual Abuse (ASA Scotland) Facebook page.

A procurator fiscal depute said: “The accused was communicating with a witness who portrays herself as a 14-year-old as part of a voluntary online safety group, who makes various social media accounts on various platforms.

"The locus was the home address of the accused. The decoy account received a message from the accused.

“He complemented her and said 'If I said you were cute, how would you feel?' She said it was nice of him to ask and said she was 14 and from the UK.

“He said he was 63 and asked if that was okay, she said 'that’s no problem', they then engaged in general chat, and acknowledged her age several times.

“He stated that if he were younger he would ask her on a date. He asked if he could adopt her. He asked if they could run away together and said he would look after her."

The fiscal depute added: “From October 16 to November 6, 2024 the accused engaged in conversation with the decoy profile. During the conversation he referred to himself as ‘daddy’ and repeatedly used highly sexual language.

“He encouraged her to [perform sexual acts on herself], said he would ‘help her’ and repeatedly asked if she was aroused and if she had ever seen an erect penis before, and what she would do if she saw the accused’s.

“He sent pictures of his guitars and his tablet. When she said she was jealous he had a tablet, he said ‘if you’re a good girl for daddy I might get you one for Christmas’.

“At 7pm on November 6 she attended his home address with other group members. The group live posted the video on Facebook.

“Police were contacted, attended and arrested the accused. He made no reply and was taken to Kilmarnock police office.

“Devices including a mobile, laptop and a tablet were searched. The Crown intend to destroy all devices."

Sheriff Scott Pattison said: "In relation to the narration, I thought the police and Crown had told such groups not to attend at houses in such a manner. For my part, I would appreciate if the group can be told."

When he returned to court for sentencing, defence solicitor Tony Currie said: “I have had the opportunity to discuss with my client. I have to say the ability to discuss in detail was difficult as he was very unwell, whatever is going on he is very softly spoken. 

"Parts of the [social work] report will cause concern - there is a suggestion the offence was not for sexual gratification. I had further discussions on what else could be the motive.

"His position is there was no sexual motivation.

"The combination of analogous offending and the nature of the offence moves it much beyond the custody threshold."

Raising the length of time he had spent on remand, Mr Currie added: "You could consider a long order while monitored for guidance and learning." 

Sheriff Pattison said a custodial sentence was "the only appropriate thing to do".

He added: "Mr Currie may be right that you will be released soon but the offence needs marked for the seriousness."

He was jailed for 16 months - backdated to when first remanded.

He was also placed on a strict sexual harm prevention order forbidding any intentional contact with children under 18.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.