PRISON FOR UNDERAGE SEX CASE MAN
A 46-year-old man who had sex with a 15-year-old girl on five occasions has been jailed for a year.Alan Turnbull, of Clovenfords, near Galashiels, arranged to pick the girl up from school and have sex with her in the back of his car.
He admitted the offences, at various locations in the Borders, between February and March this year.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond jailed him for a year saying it was an offence in which "society's displeasure must be marked".
Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that Turnbull struck up a friendship with the girl after visiting the family home virtually on a daily basis.
At first he would just ask her how she was getting on at school but in January this year the friendship intensified and they communicated by text messages.
The offences came to light when the girl was summoned to her secondary school nurse about rumours she was involved with an older man and the police were informed.
Defence lawyer Ross Dow said Turnbull had just split up from a relationship and was at a "low ebb".
"He was aware of his age and is totally ashamed," he said.
"He put a stop to it once he came to his senses but fully admitted his guilt when it eventually came out.
"I would dispute what it states in one of the reports about there being an element of grooming involved, it was more opportunistic." He added that Turnbull's new partner, who was also his employer, was standing by him.
Sheriff Drummond said he would impose a jail sentence.
"I consider it conduct in which society's displeasure must be marked," he said.
He pointed out it had not been an isolated act but committed on several occasions over a number of weeks.
Turnbull also had his name placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
