GLASGOW MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH A 13-YEAR-OLD FOR SEXUAL PURPOSES
A man named Adam Smith, aged 55, was caught engaging in a sexually explicit conversation with a decoy who was pretending to be a 13-year-old girl.The incident took place on February 20, 2023.
Smith had sent a friend request on Facebook to the decoy, named Carly Mae Murphy, and continued the conversation via WhatsApp.
During the chats, he repeatedly asked her to be his girlfriend, requested pictures of her in her pyjamas, and complimented her appearance while claiming he was in love with her.
Over the course of six days, they exchanged texts, audio, and video calls, during which Smith stated, 'I'd like to cuddle and kiss you,' and asked if she wanted to know about kissing, adding, 'I know you're still a virgin.' The decoy contacted vigilante group Protecting Kids, who then visited Smith’s home.
He confirmed his identity to the group, claiming, 'I have been talking to her but I never touched her,' and later told police, 'I was just messaging her, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.' Smith was arrested by the police, pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with a child, and is currently on the sex offenders register.
The court has deferred the sentence pending background reports and has granted him bail until the next court hearing.
