Duped Ross-shire sex predator who targeted child gets prison warning
An undercover police officer snared a sexual predator in Ross-shire by pretending to be a 14-year-old girl on a social media chat platform.
The charade fooled convicted 23-year-old sex offender Neil Ross of Heights of Achterneed, Strathpeffer who began communicating with the decoy after he set up a profile under the name of Sophie.
But when they moved to a more secure site, Ross's behaviour between January 31, 2024 and March 4, 2024, became more sexualised, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.
READ MORE
More court cases from Ross-shire
Traitors ‘henchman’ from Invergordon will be back at Ardross Castle for a wedding
Join 7000-plus others and sign up for the Ross-shire newsletter
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told Sheriff Gary Aitken he sent images of a naked penis on four occasions and "he asked to see under her pyjamas, telling her he was masturbating.
"He continued to communicate with Sophie until March 4 and then it ended."
The prosecutor said the officer sent a file to the Child Abuse Unit, and police arrested him. Ross's mobile phone was seized and it contained the indecent messages.
Ross admitted indecent communications as well as a previous conviction for downloading indecent images of children.
Sheriff Aitken said: "I am considering a Sexual harm Prevention Order. You have a relatively recent conviction for having indecent images and you have moved on to communicating with a child.
"There is an exceedingly high possibility of a significant custodial sentence but we will see what other options there are after I call for a background report."
Sentence was deferred until February 25 and Ross's bail was continued.He was again placed on the Sex Offender's Register.