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Muir of Ord child sex pest ‘beast’ snared by police officer decoy





Inverness Sheriff Court. Picture: Gary Anthony.
Inverness Sheriff Court. Picture: Gary Anthony.

A 41-year-old Ross-shire man was branded a "beast" by observers at Inverness Sheriff Court who heard sordid details of his attempts to get indecent images of a child so he could get sexually aroused.

But the court was told that David Murchison of Nobles Court, Muir of Ord thought that he was communicating with a like-minded mother of a young girl when it was actually an undercover police officer.

Fiscal depute Shamielah Ghafar narrated the harrowing texts Murchison exchanged on an internet chat forum with the "decoy" who called herself 'Vic'.

Murchison admitted a breach of the Communications Act on an occasion between March 28, 2023 and March 30, 2023 by sending communications to 'Vic' which were grossly offensive, indecent or menacing, requesting images of her child, repeatedly expressing the desires to have sexual contact with children, repeatedly expressing graphic comments about children, sexual arousal and sexual contact with children.

Murchison also admitted a breach of the peace by covertly capturing photos of a young girl in various states of undress which Ms Ghafar said he offered to exchange with 'Vic'.

Sheriff Rory Bannerman decided to defer sentence until May 16 for a background report and restriction of liberty order assessment on Murchison.

People sitting in the public gallery gasped and mumbled their disgust at what they had heard and one woman could be heard choking back tears and describing Murchison as a "beast."

His bail was continued.


View our fact sheet on court reporting here




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