AN AYRSHIRE man who admitted to "sexually fantasising" about young girls has been told he can expect to be sent to jail.
Angus MacLeod pleaded guilty to three charges in relation to child sexual offences at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, August 19.
MacLeod, 58, admitted communicating indecently with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl between March 22-30 last year from his home address in Grouse Place in Kilmarnock and elsewhere.
He also confessed to attempting to meet the same person with the intention of engaging, during or after the meeting, in unlawful sexual activity with or in the presence of said person between March 22-31 last year.
The final charge saw MacLeod admit being in possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children between March 14-31, 2023.
Fiscal depute Chris Munro told the court that MacLeod's behaviour came to light after a probe by Police Scotland which saw an officer purport their self online as a 13-year-old girl named Hannah King.
That's the same alias used in a sting which saw a Dalry man in court two weeks prior facing similar charges - and the two operations took place only weeks apart.
READ MORE: Dalry man snared after trying to meet 'girl of 13' for sexual activity
The investigation into MacLeod began on March 22 last year when a police officer made the 'Hannah King' profile on a private online chat facility.
That day, the profile connected with another called 'fun and games' - which was later found to be operated by the 58-year-old.
MacLeod openly engaged in a private chat with the profile, which was presented as a 13-year-old female - with his own showing his age to be 56 at that time.
Conversations started with the Kilmarnock man asking questions of profile like “do you like older guys?” and asking where they stayed in Glasgow.
He also asked for the teen's username on social media platform Snapchat, where the conversation then moved.
In later days, the chats took a more sexual turn with MacLeod asking the profile questions like “what are you wearing under your leggings?” and making remarks about his reaction to her answer and asking “do you think you could help” with this.
He also posed further indecent questions in relation to 'Hannah', with statements referring to her bra size, and her previous sexual experiences.
Discussions were also had about the pair meeting, with the 58-year-old asking "what they would do if they met".
In his answer he made a sexual remark referencing kissing her lips.
Other messages read to the court included general chat and and description of non-offensive images showing himself which MacLeod, who is in full-time employment as a sales assistant, sent.
Further discussions were then had about meeting up with the chat profile, which led to a meeting being arranged at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, where the chat profile had earlier stated they were from.
In the following days the profile received images of the stadium as well as the nearby retail park from the 58-year-old who said he "wanted to confirm where it was" before their planned meeting date on March 31.
More chats took place before this date, including one where the profile stated they were at school.
MacLeod asked “what would you rather be doing?” and about what she was going to wear when they met.
He told her she would “look great in leggings” after he was told she would wear this.
The Kilmarnock man also asked what underwear she would be wearing that day, and responded “damn that’s sexy” to her reply.
Following these conversations, police were able to trace the IP address for the Snapchat profile to the property of MacLeod, and a search warrant was obtained for the address.
Officers attended on March 31 to carry out the warrant with police further identifying MacLeod from pictures sent from the profile to ‘Hannah’.
During the search a number of items were seized, in particular two phones, a laptop and a pack of ‘thongs’.
The following day, MacLeod was interviewed by police and answered a number of questions.
He admitted to being responsible for sexual communications and stated that the thongs had been purchased to give to ‘Hannah’ at their meeting – and that he was hoping to be given a her underwear in return.
He also confessed to “sexually fantasising" about young girls and having a ‘thing’ for underwear.
His phones were analysed at a later date and on one device the chats between himself and the profile operated by police were recovered.
MacLeod's second device was found to contain six indecent images of children.
Girls aged between 10 and 13 were depicted being submitted to sexual activity in the images, the court was told.
Defending, solicitor Gillian Swanney asked that sentence be deferred in the case to allow for background reports to be prepared. She also asked that MacLeod's bail be continued until that date.
Sheriff Colin Bisset agreed to hold off sentencing, but warned the Kilmarnock man that prison is high in his mind.
He said: “These matters are extremely serious and you can expect to receive a custodial sentence.”
MacLeod was added to the sex offenders register in the meantime.
The length of time he is place on the register will be determined at his next court appearance.
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