ELGIN MAN AVOIDS JAIL AFTER GROOMING AND SHARING EXPLICIT IMAGES WITH MINORS

Alex Bruce, aged 21, from Mossend Place, Elgin, was involved in serious criminal activities involving minors. He first contacted a girl aged 14 in the spring of 2023, engaging in grooming behavior by complimenting her and offering money to visit his home for sex. He targeted a second girl, sending her videos of himself shopping for nappies and wearing them. The crimes, which spanned from April 1 to June 8, 2023, included sending explicit messages and images, as well as pictures of himself urinating while in nappies, wearing women's underwear, including a lace bodysuit, and his 'thong collection.' He asked the first girl if she would come to his house and offered her £50 for sex. The court was told that Bruce also sent one girl images of himself urinating in nappies and asked for illicit images in return. His actions were laid out in court after he admitted to two charges related to these incidents. Despite the severity of his crimes, Bruce was spared jail and was instead sentenced to three years of supervision by the social work department, with requirements for rehabilitation and conduct monitoring. He will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements, which include informing police of any address or name changes during this period. The court convicted him of sending sexual communications to a minor and asking for explicit images, with detailed evidence including messages and photographs."